SIMULATED FAILURE OF THE J. PERCY PRIEST DAM AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE METRO-NASHVILLE AREA

Floods caused by dam failures are catastrophic in nature, due to the large amount of water released over a short interval of time. Historically, dam failures have occurred in rural areas, but this study investigates the effects of flooding on a major urban area.

The J. Percy Priest Dam in Tennessee is located on the Stones River 6.8 river miles upstream of the Cumberland River and about 20 river miles upstream of Nashville. Some of the most important industrial and business districts in the city are located along the Cumberland River and would be severely threatened by a major flood, as evidenced by the May 2010 floods.

The Watershed Modeling System (WMS) Simple Dam Break model was used to simulate failure of the J. Percy Priest Dam. Using reservoir data, failure parameters, and a digital elevation model of the area, an inundation map was created to show the extent and depth of the flooding. Using this information, we were able to analyze the types of land use, the population, vulnerable systems (such as schools and hospitals), and some of the major landmarks that would be threatened by a failure. Awareness of these potential consequences can aid emergency planners and responders in the event of a catastrophe and help them protect lives and resources.