Tellico Dam
Tellico Dam is a concrete dam located in Loudon County, Tennessee, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Tellico Dam
The primary purpose of Tellico 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 Little Tennessee River near Lenoir City.
The dam stands 129 feet tall and stretches 3,238 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 513,597 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,627 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 08/20/2024.
At 129 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 | Lenoir City |
| River/Stream | Little Tennessee River |
| Coordinates | 35.77795, -84.25970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 129 ft |
| Dam Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,238 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 513,597 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 513,597 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 392,634 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,627 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 159,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN10506 |
| Federal ID | TN10506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |