Great Falls Dam
Great Falls Dam is a concrete dam located in White County, Tennessee, built in 1916. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Great Falls Dam
The primary purpose of Great Falls Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Tva (federal). It impounds the Caney Fork River near Carthage.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,830 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 64,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,675 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/26/2025.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | White |
| Nearest City | Carthage |
| River/Stream | Caney Fork River |
| Coordinates | 35.80203, -85.62208 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39,660 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,830 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,675 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 162,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN17704 |
| Federal ID | TN17704 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |