List of dam removals in Tennessee

This is a list of dams in Tennessee that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

Completed removals

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Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Nashville Zoo Dam Weir 1 4 ft (1.2 m) 2017 Nashville
36°05′23″N 86°44′11″W / 36.0896°N 86.7364°W / 36.0896; -86.7364 (Nashville Zoo Dam Weir 1)
Cathy Jo Branch Cumberland River Owned by the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.
Nashville Zoo Dam Weir 2 4 ft (1.2 m) 2017 Nashville
36°05′23″N 86°44′06″W / 36.0897°N 86.7349°W / 36.0897; -86.7349 (Nashville Zoo Dam Weir 2)
Chandler Cove Dam 3 ft (0.91 m) 2018 Nashville
36°01′25″N 86°40′24″W / 36.0237°N 86.6732°W / 36.0237; -86.6732 (Chandler Cove Dam)
Mill Creek
Culbertson Road Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2018 Nashville
36°00′46″N 86°41′06″W / 36.0128°N 86.685°W / 36.0128; -86.685 (Culbertson Road Dam)
McRedmond Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2018 Nashville
36°08′27″N 86°42′53″W / 36.1407°N 86.7147°W / 36.1407; -86.7147 (McRedmond Dam)
Dam built for recreation.
McCabe Golf Course Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2014 Nashville
36°08′19″N 86°50′59″W / 36.1386°N 86.8497°W / 36.1386; -86.8497 (McCabe Golf Course Dam)
Richland Creek Golf course irrigation dam owned by Metro Nashville.
Sevenmile Dam 4 ft (1.2 m) 2015 Nashville
36°02′43″N 86°44′45″W / 36.0454°N 86.7458°W / 36.0454; -86.7458 (Sevenmile Dam)
Sevenmile Creek Located behind the Edmondson Pike Branch Library, the cinder block dam was removed to support the endangered Nashville crayfish. 580 crayfish were relocated from the area ahead of the demolition.[2]
Roaring River Fish Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2017 Gainesboro
36°21′11″N 85°35′57″W / 36.3531°N 85.5991°W / 36.3531; -85.5991 (Roaring River Fish Dam)
Roaring River Fish barrier meant to keep rough fish from the downstream Cordell Hull Lake out of the river. Owned by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Harpeth River Dam 2012 Franklin
35°54′32″N 86°51′17″W / 35.9089°N 86.8546°W / 35.9089; -86.8546 (Harpeth River Dam)
Harpeth River Harpeth River Owned by the City of Franklin.
Occidental Chem Pond Dam D 160 ft (49 m) 1995 Williamsport
35°42′22″N 87°13′30″W / 35.7061°N 87.225°W / 35.7061; -87.225 (Occidental Chem Pond Dam D)
Duck Creek Duck River
Monsanto Dam #7 78 ft (24 m) 1990 Columbia
35°39′18″N 87°05′32″W / 35.6549°N 87.0923°W / 35.6549; -87.0923 (Monsanto Dam #7)
Duck River
Tailings Pond No. 7 Dam 1990 Maury County
35°39′16″N 87°05′39″W / 35.6545°N 87.0941°W / 35.6545; -87.0941 (Tailings Pond No. 7 Dam)
Tributary to Duck River
Monsanto Dam #3 39 ft (12 m) 1988 Columbia
35°40′11″N 87°07′25″W / 35.6698°N 87.1237°W / 35.6698; -87.1237 (Monsanto Dam #3)
Tributary to Duck River
Monsanto Dam #4 53 ft (16 m) 1990 Columbia
35°39′55″N 87°06′33″W / 35.6652°N 87.1092°W / 35.6652; -87.1092 (Monsanto Dam #4)
Greenlick Creek
Monsanto Dam #5A 52 ft (16 m) 1990 Columbia
35°39′32″N 87°06′51″W / 35.659°N 87.1141°W / 35.659; -87.1141 (Monsanto Dam #5A)
Monsanto Dam #9 33 ft (10 m) 1990 Columbia
35°39′40″N 87°08′06″W / 35.6611°N 87.1351°W / 35.6611; -87.1351 (Monsanto Dam #9)
Helms Branch
Rhone Poulenc Dam #20 33 ft (10 m) 1995 Mt. Pleasant
35°32′59″N 87°10′32″W / 35.5496°N 87.1756°W / 35.5496; -87.1756 (Rhone Poulenc Dam #20)
Quality Creek
Occidental Chem Dam #6 53 ft (16 m) 1991 Columbia
35°38′59″N 87°02′00″W / 35.6498°N 87.0333°W / 35.6498; -87.0333 (Occidental Chem Dam #6)
Tributary to Rutherford Creek
Hooker No. 6 Dam 1991 Maury County
35°39′00″N 87°01′55″W / 35.65°N 87.032°W / 35.65; -87.032 (Hooker No. 6 Dam)
Tributary to Rutherford Creek
Walkers Dam 32 ft (9.8 m) 1992 Columbia
35°40′01″N 87°00′28″W / 35.667°N 87.0077°W / 35.667; -87.0077 (Walkers Dam)
Walker Stream
Gin House Lake Dam 32 ft (9.8 m) 1994 Munford
35°28′38″N 89°48′24″W / 35.4771°N 89.8068°W / 35.4771; -89.8068 (Gin House Lake Dam)
Adkinson Creek Hatchie River
Upper Citico Creek Dam 7 ft (2.1 m) 2015 Monroe County
35°25′13″N 84°05′34″W / 35.4202°N 84.0929°W / 35.4202; -84.0929 (Upper Citico Creek Dam)
Citico Creek Little Tennessee River Rough fish barrier owned by the U.S. Forest Service.
Ballard Mill Mine Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 1992 Sweetwater
35°36′17″N 84°23′20″W / 35.6048°N 84.389°W / 35.6048; -84.389 (Ballard Mill Mine Dam)
Tributary to Fork Creek
Spence Farm Pond Dam #5 35 ft (11 m) 1983 Adamsville
35°12′12″N 88°22′03″W / 35.2033°N 88.3675°W / 35.2033; -88.3675 (Spence Farm Pond Dam #5)
Tributary to Snake Creek Tennessee River
Bales Mill Dam Greene County
36°08′19″N 82°45′36″W / 36.1387°N 82.7601°W / 36.1387; -82.7601 (Bales Mill Dam)
Holly Creek Nolichucky River Hydropower dam.
Lake Deforest Dam 36 ft (11 m) 1991 Oakfield
35°42′33″N 88°46′09″W / 35.7093°N 88.7691°W / 35.7093; -88.7691 (Lake Deforest Dam)
Johnson Creek Forked Deer River
London's Mill Dam (Tailings Pond Dam) 106 ft (32 m) 1995 Polk County
35°02′33″N 84°21′59″W / 35.0424°N 84.3665°W / 35.0424; -84.3665 (London's Mill Dam (Tailings Pond Dam))
Burra-Burra Creek Ocoee River
Cities Service Company Dam 30 ft (9.1 m) 1995 Turtletown
35°02′26″N 84°22′00″W / 35.0405°N 84.3667°W / 35.0405; -84.3667 (Cities Service Company Dam)
Brown's Mill Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) 2014 Lascassas
35°54′07″N 86°16′52″W / 35.902°N 86.281°W / 35.902; -86.281 (Brown's Mill Dam)
East Fork Stones River Stones River
Eblen-Powell Dam #1 32 ft (9.8 m) LaFollette
36°23′20″N 84°08′20″W / 36.389°N 84.1389°W / 36.389; -84.1389 (Eblen-Powell Dam #1)
Ollis Creek Clinch River
L. Thompson Dam #1 10 ft (3.0 m) 1990
L.C. Hancock Dam #1 8 ft (2.4 m) 1990

Planned and proposed removals

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Dam Expected year Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Harms Mill Dam 2023–2024 Lincoln County
35°09′02″N 86°38′55″W / 35.1506°N 86.6487°W / 35.1506; -86.6487 (Harms Mill Dam)
Elk River Elk River Removing the only major barrier on the Elk River would result in 1,114 mi (1,793 km) stream miles opened to aquatic migration. This would support 46 species of greatest conservation need, including the round hickorynut, as well as increase safety for boaters. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is leading the project, which has been awarded $500,000 from the National Fish Passage Program.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ Bennett, Macaela (18 June 2015). "Dam removal protects Nashville endangered species". The Tennessean. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Harm's Mill Dam Removal". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 5 October 2023.