Mary's Creek #8 Dam is an earth dam located in Shelby County, Tennessee, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 1,390 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 Mary's Creek #8 Dam
The primary purpose of Mary's Creek #8 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Shelby County Soil Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Trib-mary's Creek near Crossroads.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 1,390 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 542 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/15/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Shelby |
| Nearest City | Crossroads |
| River/Stream | Trib-mary's Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.14667, -89.64722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,390 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 542 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 542 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 165 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Shelby County Soil Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15727 |
| Federal ID | TN15727 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |