Nelson Elam #2 Dam is an earth dam located in Williamson County, Tennessee, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 281 ft long. 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 Nelson Elam #2 Dam
The primary purpose of Nelson Elam #2 Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Haley, Carl (private). It impounds the Trib-harpeth.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 281 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 42 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1925, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/05/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 |
| River/Stream | Trib-harpeth |
| Coordinates | 35.93111, -86.99222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 281 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Haley, Carl |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN18725 |
| Federal ID | TN18725 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |