Lake Marian Dam
Lake Marian Dam is an earth dam located in Sevier County, Tennessee, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Marian Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Marian Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Little Greenbriar H.o.a. (private). It impounds the Cove Creek near Wear Valley.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 262 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 121 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 08/04/2025.
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 | Sevier |
| Nearest City | Wear Valley |
| River/Stream | Cove Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.69944, -83.64528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 262 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 121 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 121 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Little Greenbriar H.o.a. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15502 |
| Federal ID | TN15502 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |