Waters Dam is an earth dam located in Sevier County, Tennessee, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 164 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Waters Dam
Waters Dam is a dam in Sevier, Tennessee. The dam is owned by The High Command LLC (private). It impounds the Gists Creek near Cattlesburg.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 164 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 42 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 02/29/2024.
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 | Cattlesburg |
| River/Stream | Gists Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.87611, -83.59167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 164 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | The High Command LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 02/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15503 |
| Federal ID | TN15503 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |