Rich Dam is an earth dam located in Williamson County, Tennessee, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 383 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Rich Dam
The primary purpose of Rich Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Rich, John W. (private). It impounds the South Harpeth River.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 383 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 04/20/2021.
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 | South Harpeth River |
| Coordinates | 35.98333, -87.03639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 383 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 79 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Rich, John W. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN18731 |
| Federal ID | TN18731 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |