View source for Old Hickory Lock and Dam

{{More sources|date=November 2024}}{{Short description|Dam on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Infobox dam
| name                 = Old Hickory Lock and Dam
| name_official        = 
| image                = OldHickoryLockandDam.jpg
| image_size           = 240
| image_caption        = The Old Hickory Lock and Dam forms [[Old Hickory Lake]].
| image_alt            = 
| location_map         = Tennessee
| location_map_size    = 
| location_map_caption = 
| location_map_relief  =
| coordinates          = {{coord|36|17|48|N|86|39|20|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country              = US
| location             = 
| purpose              = Flood, Navigation, Power
| status               = O
| construction_began   = January 1952
| opening              = December 1957
| demolished           = 
| cost                 = 
| owner                = [[USACE]]
| dam_type             = 
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| dam_length           = 
| dam_width_crest      = 
| dam_width_base       = 
| dam_volume           = 
| dam_elevation_crest  =
| dam_crosses          = 
| spillway_count       = 6
| spillway_type        = 
| spillway_capacity    = 
| res_name             = [[Old Hickory Lake]]
| res_capacity_total   ={{convert|467000|acre feet|km3|abbr=on}} 
| res_capacity_active  =
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment        = {{convert|11674|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}
| res_surface          = {{convert|22500|acre|ha|abbr=on}}
| res_elevation        =
| res_max_depth        = 
| res_max_length       ={{convert|97.3|mi|km||abbr=on}}
| res_max_width        =
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| website              = 
| extra                = 
}}

'''Old Hickory Lock and Dam''' is a [[dam]] located in middle [[Tennessee]] on the [[Cumberland River]] at river mile 216.2 in [[Sumner County, Tennessee|Sumner]] and [[Davidson County, Tennessee|Davidson]] Counties, approximately {{convert|25|mi}} upstream from [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].  The [[reservoir (water)|reservoir]] behind the dam is [[Old Hickory Lake]]. The dam and lake are named after [[President of the United States|President]] [[Andrew Jackson]] (nicknamed "Old Hickory"), who lived in the vicinity at [[The Hermitage (Tennessee)|The Hermitage]].

==Construction==

Old Hickory Lock and Dam was authorized for construction by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1946 as a unit of a comprehensive development plan for the Cumberland River Basin. The project was designed by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] and built by private contractors under the Corp's supervision. Construction started in January 1952, and dam closure was completed in June 1954. The project was completed for full beneficial use in December 1957 with the placement of the final [[hydroelectric power]] unit in operation.

==Reservoir==

Old Hickory Reservoir is {{convert|97.3|miles}} long lying between Nashville and [[Carthage, Tennessee|Carthage]]. The reservoir is essentially a [[run-of-river]] type without regulating storage other than for incidental flood control through surcharge operation, and for [[pondage]] for power generation and lockages; hence, low water flow of the river will be increased only indirectly through the use and passage of discharges from upstream plants.  Such releases, however, result in a more sufficient and higher quality of water for domestic and industrial consumption and use are effective in pollution abatement downstream.

Due to the fairly constant level maintained under normal operating conditions, the reservoir is well suited for conservation and recreational purposes. Beginning in 2007, the multi-year altered flow and water temperatures resulting from the emergency maintenance on the [[Wolf Creek Dam]] affected Old Hickory like the other Cumberland River reservoirs and resulted in modifications about environmental management.<ref name="TWRA10-04">{{Cite web 
| last = Hubbs | first = Don
| title = 2009 Statewide Mussel Report - Fisheries Report 10-04
| url = http://www.tennessee.gov/twra/fish/mussels/09swmus.pdf
| publisher = [[Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency]]
| date = 2010
| accessdate = 15 September 2013
}}</ref>{{rp|3,14}}

==Operation==
[[File:Old Hickory Dam.jpg|thumb|left|Old Hickory Lock and Dam]]
[[File:Old Hickory Dam powerplant.jpg|thumb|Powerplant]]

The lock, dam, powerhouse and lake are operated and supervised by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' personnel under the direction of the District Engineer at Nashville. The [[canal lock|lock]] allows [[barge]]s and recreational [[boat]]s to navigate the Cumberland River.

The power plant is operated so as to use as much of the water flow as possible for power production. During periods of high stream flow, the [[spillway]] gates are opened to pass the water in excess of the capacity of the turbines, and as necessary for retention and regulation of [[flood]]waters through surcharge operation. The upper portion of the reservoir, corresponding to a five-foot depth above the normal [[headwater]] level, is provided for surcharge storage. This storage space is utilized by raising all of the spillway gates in small equal increments, thus permitting passage of some water under them, but retaining or forcing into storage all inflow to the reservoir in excess of the spillway discharge and power releases.

Electricity from the dam is marketed by the [[Southeastern Power Administration]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Generation – Southeastern Power Administration |url=https://www.energy.gov/sepa/generation |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Energy.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==2010 Flooding==
Old Hickory was a key element in flood control during [[2010 Tennessee floods|flooding on the Cumberland River in 2010]]. The operation and timing of water releases, following the {{convert|13.5|in}} of rain over two days, subsequently became the subject of a [[US Senate]] hearing.

[[Cheatham Dam]] located below Nashville was so flooded that the Corps pulled out the spillway gates and evacuated the dam allowing the river free discharge over the dam which was considered in the design. Old Hickory was not designed for a dam over-topping so a priority for the Corps was to prevent the reservoir overflowing the dam. The river upstream finally stopped rising on Sunday night with the reservoir approximately one foot below the top of the dam.

A few days before the flood Old Hickory Dam was releasing approximately {{convert|32000|ft3/s|m3/s}} of water. At the peak release on Sunday afternoon, the dam was releasing a record flow of over {{convert|212260|ft3/s|m3/s}} of water.<ref name="foxnews2010-0511">{{Cite web 
| title = Corps of Engineers says releasing water from Tenn. dam prevented more damage to Nashville 
| website = [[Fox News]]
| url = https://www.foxnews.com/us/corps-of-engineers-says-releasing-water-from-tenn-dam-prevented-more-damage-to-nashville/
| publisher = 
| date = May 11, 2010
| access-date = 15 September 2013
}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{USACE.Army.Mil|sourceURL=http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/OLD/rec/}}

{{stack|{{Portal|United States|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
<!-- {{coord|36|17|48|N|86|39|20|W |region:US-TN_type:landmark |display=title}} -->

[[Category:Dams in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Davidson County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sumner County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power plants in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Davidson County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Transportation in Sumner County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams]]
[[Category:Dams completed in 1954]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1954]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Dams on the Cumberland River]]