Dogwood Dam is an earth dam located in Henderson County, Tennessee, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 1,890 ft long, taller than 78% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Dogwood Dam
The primary purpose of Dogwood 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 Big Creek near Darden.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 447 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/13/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Henderson |
| Nearest City | Darden |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.69631, -88.23773 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,890 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,510 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 447 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,648 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 02/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN07712 |
| Federal ID | TN07712 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |