Reelfoot-indian Creek #17 Dam is an earth dam located in Obion County, Tennessee, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 910 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Reelfoot-indian Creek #17 Dam
Reelfoot-indian Creek #17 Dam is a dam in Obion, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Twra (state).
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 910 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,797 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 12/16/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Obion |
| Coordinates | 36.42194, -89.29056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 910 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,797 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,797 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 644 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Twra |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN13103 |
| Federal ID | TN13103 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |