Melton Hill Dam is a concrete dam located in Loudon County, Tennessee, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 103 ft103 ft tall and 1,020 ft long, taller than 98% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Melton Hill Dam
The primary purpose of Melton Hill Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by TVA (federal). It impounds the Clinch River near Kingston.
The dam stands 103 feet tall and stretches 1,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,690 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150,708 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,343 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 11/26/2024.
At 103 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Loudon |
| Nearest City | Kingston |
| River/Stream | Clinch River |
| Coordinates | 35.88569, -84.29992 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 103 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150,708 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150,708 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 105,099 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,690 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,343 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 121,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN10502 |
| Federal ID | TN10502 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |