Raccoon Mountain Saddle Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Tennessee, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 750 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Raccoon Mountain Saddle Dam
The primary purpose of Raccoon Mountain Saddle 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 Tennessee River - John Mcnabb Branch near Haletown.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 528 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 36,340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 07/09/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Haletown |
| River/Stream | Tennessee River - John Mcnabb Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.05624, -85.39014 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 36,340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 36,340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 528 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN11501 |
| Federal ID | TN11501S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |