Cedar Dam
Cedar Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Tennessee, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cedar Dam
The primary purpose of Cedar Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Tva (federal). It impounds the Haley Creek near Chesterfield.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 142 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/24/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Tennessee dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Chesterfield |
| River/Stream | Haley Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.67139, -88.31984 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 870 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 142 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,170 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN07709 |
| Federal ID | TN07709 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |