J. Percy Priest Dam was built at mile 6.8 on the Stones River, a tributary of the Cumberland. The lake is located in north central Tennessee, encompassing portions of Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties. Rising 130 feet above the streambed, the combination earth and concrete-gravity dam is 2,716 feet long with a hydroelectric power generating plant. The dam has contributed significantly in reducing the frequency and severity of flooding in the Cumberland Valley. In addition to the far reaching effects of flood control, the project contributes to the available electric power supply of this area.
At normal summer pool (Elevation 490.0) the 42-mile long lake with its 213 miles of shoreline contains 14,200 surface areas of water. Total storage capacity at maximum pool (Elevation 504.5) is 652,200 acre-feet. Average annual energy output is 70 million kilowatt hours.
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DAM
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Type
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Concrete-gravity and earthfill
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Dimensions:
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Maximum height, feet
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130
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Length, feet (concrete, 663.5; earth, 2,052.5)
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2,716.0
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Elevations (above mean sea level):
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Top of dam, roadway (Bell Road)
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522.0
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Top of gates
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504.5
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Spillway crest
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463.5
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RESERVOIR
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Drainage area, square miles:
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865
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Length of pool at Elev. 490.0, river miles:
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42
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Length of shoreline, pool at Elev. 490.0, miles:
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213
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Area, acres:
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Top of flood-control pool (Elev. 504.5)
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22,700
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Maximum power pool (Elev. 490.0)
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14,200
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Land acreage above normal summer pool (Elev. 490.0)
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18,854
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Total project area
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33,054
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Storage capacities, acre-feet:
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Flood control (Elev. 504.5-490.0)
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260,000
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Power drawdown (Elev. 490.0-480.0)
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124,000
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Permanent pool (below Elev. 480.0)
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268,000
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Total (below Elev. 504.5)
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652,000
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