Lake Graham Dam
Lake Graham Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Tennessee, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Graham Dam
Lake Graham Dam is a dam in Madison, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Twra (state). It impounds the Brown Creek.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 439 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,841 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 01/30/2025.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Madison |
| River/Stream | Brown Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.62917, -88.72222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,841 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,841 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,451 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 439 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Twra |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN11323 |
| Federal ID | TN11323 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |