Laurel Hill Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lawrence County, Tennessee, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 72 ft72 ft tall and 900 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Laurel Hill Lake Dam
Laurel Hill Lake Dam is a dam in Lawrence, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Twra (state). It impounds the Peter Cave Creek near Oak Grove.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 05/23/2025.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Oak Grove |
| River/Stream | Peter Cave Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.35099, -87.53280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Twra |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN09901 |
| Federal ID | TN09901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |