Jennings Creek #17 Dam
Jennings Creek #17 Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, Tennessee, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Jennings Creek #17 Dam
Jennings Creek #17 Dam is a dam in Macon, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Jackson County (local government). It impounds the Jennings Creek near North Springs.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,782 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/03/2025.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Macon |
| Nearest City | North Springs |
| River/Stream | Jennings Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.45972, -85.84417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,782 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,782 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 137 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Jackson County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN11102 |
| Federal ID | TN11102 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |