Nelson Elam #1 Dam
Nelson Elam #1 Dam is an earth dam located in Williamson County, Tennessee, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nelson Elam #1 Dam
Nelson Elam #1 Dam is a dam in Williamson, Tennessee. The dam is owned by Carl Haley (private). It impounds the Trib-west Harpeth River near Bethlehem.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 492 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 129 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 09/05/2019.
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 | Williamson |
| Nearest City | Bethlehem |
| River/Stream | Trib-west Harpeth River |
| Coordinates | 35.93000, -86.98556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 492 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 129 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 129 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 94 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Carl Haley |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN18703 |
| Federal ID | TN18703 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |