Spencer Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Van Buren County, Tennessee, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 480 ft long, taller than 84% 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 Spencer Water Supply Dam
Spencer Water Supply Dam is a dam in Van Buren, Tennessee. The dam is owned by City of Spencer (local government). It impounds the Caney Fork River.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 358 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 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/15/2025.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Van Buren |
| River/Stream | Caney Fork River |
| Coordinates | 35.76667, -85.46889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 358 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 358 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | City of Spencer |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN17502 |
| Federal ID | TN17502 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |