To ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District initiates scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate potential impacts of the proposed revision of the 1998 J. Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir Water Control Manual (WCM). The J. Percy Priest WCM comprises pertinent project data, background information, the plan for day-to-day and emergency water management, and the effects of the plan on authorized project purposes.
J. Percy Priest Dam is located at Mile 6.8 on the Stones River in Davidson County, Tennessee. J. Percy Priest Reservoir spreads throughout Cannon, Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties within the Stones River Watershed (HUC8-01530203) (Figure 1). The Reservoir is one of four major flood risk management reservoirs for the Cumberland River with the others being Center Hill Reservoir, Dale Hollow Reservoir, and Lake Cumberland. J. Percy Priest was authorized for construction in 1938 with flood control as the only authorized purpose. Hydropower was added as an additional authorized purpose for this project under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1946 as part of a comprehensive plan for the development of the Cumberland River Basin. A 1962 feasibility report recommended the expansion of the project's purpose to include "flood control, hydropower, recreation, fish and wildlife, and related purposes." These additional purposes were authorized under general authorities and are applicable to all USACE reservoir projects as long as operations are consistent with the originally authorized purposes. The dam construction was completed for flood risk management operations in December 1967 and a hydropower unit was later installed in 1970.
The Dam is a concrete and earth structure with four tainter gates and one hydroelectric power generating unit (Figures 2 & 3). Visitors to J. Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir have diverse interests such as hiking, camping, bird watching, sightseeing, cycling, rock climbing, fly fishing, and paddling. J. Percy Priest Reservoir is consistently one of the top ten most-visited USACE reservoirs in the nation, with annual visitations in FY 2023 reaching over 5.5 million.
The WCM ensures unbiased operations and informs the public of mission priorities.
The purpose of the proposed action is to update the J. Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir WCM to include current project operations under the existing congressional authorizations. The updates would incorporate recent historical data (1970-2025), new and rehabilitated structural features, watershed characteristics, communication networks, naming conventions, changes from previously approved EAs, and modern forecasting methods. These revisions are needed for current project operations and optimal management of the reservoir to achieve authorized project purposes. These updates are informational in nature and provide prudent knowledge to Nashville District water managers.
USACE is considering changes to the following operational practices:
• Year-Round Control Stage – J. Percy Priest is currently operating under a seasonal flow regime with fewer releases from January to May during crop season. The seasonal flow was initially implemented to reduce the potential for flooding of farmland downstream. USACE is exploring alterations to this seasonal reduction in releases.
• Guide Curve Modification – Currently J. Percy Priest Reservoir experiences a drawdown to winter pool levels beginning in October and targeted to end in early November. USACE is exploring a delay in the timing of this drawdown through reservoir operations.
On 12 June 2025, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, USACE will hold a public meeting at the Hermitage Branch of the Nashville Public Library located at 3700 James Kay Lane, Hermitage, TN 37076. USACE aims to gather input from all stakeholders to best balance the reservoir’s authorized project purposes. USACE will also evaluate input submitted to determine the proper level of analysis for NEPA review (categorical exclusion, environmental assessment, or environmental impact statement).
This letter serves to solicit scoping comments from the public, federal, state, local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity as part of the USACE planning process and in accordance with the NEPA process. We encourage comments not only about resources in the immediate project area, but also of plans or proposals for any other development that may influence project resources or potential alternative plans. This letter also serves to initiate the public involvement requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.
We request comments be sent to CorpsLRNPlanningPublicCom@usace.army.mil no later than thirty calendar days from the date of this letter. If you are unable to access an email account, you may send written comments to 110 9TH AVENUE SOUTH, ROOM A-405, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203, ATTN: CELRN-PMP. Comments will also be collected in-person at the Public Meeting. Your participation is greatly appreciated.