Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond

TENNESSEE RIVER - OFFSTREAM· Cumberland, Tennessee· Built 1975· Earth· 20 ft tall
Low Hazard Flood Risk Reduction Federal Government

Key Takeaway

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond is classified as low hazard in Tennessee. It was completed in 1975 and is 51 years old. Its primary use is flood risk reduction.

Physical Details

Dam Height 20 ft (taller than 14.7% in TN)
Dam Length300 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage190 acre-ft
Normal Storage123 acre-ft
Surface Area4 acres
Year Completed1975 (51 years old)
NID IDTN14306

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: February 20, 2020
State Regulated: No

Ownership

TVA

Federal Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond is owned by TVA (Federal Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond built?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond was completed in 1975, making it 51 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond serves the following purposes: Flood Risk Reduction. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond has a dam height of 20 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond last inspected?

Watts Bar Nuclear Holding Pond was last inspected on February 20, 2020. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.