River Oaks Dam
River Oaks Dam is an earth dam located in Shelby County, Tennessee, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About River Oaks Dam
River Oaks Dam is a dam in Shelby, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Blue Heron Lake Owners Association (private). It impounds the Trib-wolf River near Raleigh.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 106 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/09/2025.
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 | Shelby |
| Nearest City | Raleigh |
| River/Stream | Trib-wolf River |
| Coordinates | 35.11722, -89.85111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 106 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 106 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 83 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Blue Heron Lake Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15736 |
| Federal ID | TN15736 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |