Overview
Ocoee Dam No. 1, also known as the Ocoee River Dam, is a hydroelectric power facility situated on the Ocoee River in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. It is one of three dams operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on the Ocoee River system.
Location
- Coordinates: approximately 35°12′45″ N, 84°45′30″ W.
- The dam lies near the community of Ocoee, downstream of the Ocoee River’s headwaters and upstream of the Ocoee River’s confluence with the Hiwassee River.
Construction and Operational History
- Construction began: 1910
- Commissioned: 1913
- Original builder: The Ocoee Power Company, later acquired by the Tennessee Power Company.
- Acquisition by TVA: The dam was incorporated into TVA’s system in 1939 as part of the agency’s broader initiative to develop regional hydroelectric resources.
Technical Specifications
- Dam type: Concrete gravity dam.
- Height: Approximately 27 meters (90 feet).
- Length: Roughly 122 meters (400 feet) across the river.
- Reservoir: The impoundment created by the dam is relatively small, often referred to simply as Ocoee Lake (not a large storage reservoir).
- Hydroelectric capacity: The generating station originally installed two Francis turbines, providing a combined capacity of about 15 megawatts (MW). Subsequent upgrades have modestly increased capacity, but the plant remains a small‑scale contributor within TVA’s overall generation portfolio.
Purpose and Usage
- Primary function: Generation of hydroelectric power for the regional grid.
- Secondary impacts: The dam regulates river flow downstream, influencing recreational activities such as white‑water rafting, which is a significant tourism draw on the Ocoee River.
Environmental and Regulatory Aspects
- The dam operates under licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- TVA conducts regular monitoring of water quality, fish passage, and sediment management in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related regulations.
Related Infrastructure
- Ocoee Dam No. 2: Located upstream, completed in 1912, with a larger generating capacity.
- Ocoee Dam No. 3 (Ocoee Lock and Dam): Completed in 1943, primarily facilitates navigation and flow control.
Significance
Ocoee Dam No. 1 represents an early 20th‑century effort to harness the Ocoee River’s hydraulic potential. While modest in size compared with larger TVA projects, it contributes to the diversity of the agency’s renewable energy resources and supports the economic vitality of the surrounding region through both power generation and the downstream recreation industry.
