Smith Dam is an earth dam located in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 220 ft long. 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 Smith Dam
Smith Dam is a dam in Lauderdale, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Mccoy, Alice (private). It impounds the Cane Creek near Ripley.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 69 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 01/26/2022.
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 | Lauderdale |
| Nearest City | Ripley |
| River/Stream | Cane Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.79861, -89.52556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 57 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Mccoy, Alice |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN09708 |
| Federal ID | TN09708 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |