Percy Priest Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Percy Priest Lake |
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 Percy Priest Lake
Location in Tennessee
Percy Priest Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Davidson / Rutherford / Wilson counties Tennessee, US |
| Coordinates | 36°09′25″N 86°37′03″W / 36.15694°N 86.61750°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Stones River |
| Primary outflows | Stones River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 14,200 acres (5,700 ha) |
J. Percy Priest Lake is a large reservoir (a man-made lake) located in the middle of Tennessee. It was created by building the J. Percy Priest Dam across the Stones River. This dam is easy to spot from Interstate 40. It sits about 10 miles (16 km) east of downtown Nashville. The lake itself stretches for 42 miles (68 km).
The lake and its dam are named after Percy Priest. He was a Congressman who served in the U.S. government.
About Percy Priest Lake
Percy Priest Lake covers parts of three counties: Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson. The lake has about 14,200 acres (57 km²) of water. This is how big it is during the summer.
Around the lake, there are 18,854 acres (76 km²) of public land. About 10,000 acres (40 km²) of this land is set aside for wildlife. This means it's a safe place for animals to live and thrive. Before the lake was built, a town called Old Jefferson was located here. It was removed in the early 1960s to make way for the dam.
How the Lake Was Made
The idea for the Percy Priest Dam project started a long time ago. The U.S. Congress first approved it in 1946. Back then, it was called the "Stewarts Ferry Reservoir." Later, in 1958, Congress decided to change its name. They wanted to honor Congressman Percy Priest for his work.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers built the dam. This is a special part of the U.S. Army that builds and manages public works projects. The entire project was finished in 1967.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the dam, the power station, the lake, and all the public lands around it. They have a team that takes care of everything.
There are many places for people to visit and enjoy the lake:
- Campgrounds: You can go camping at places like Anderson Road, Seven Points, and Poole Knobs.
- Day-Use Areas: These are spots perfect for picnics or just spending the day outdoors. Some popular ones include Cook, Jefferson Springs, and Nice's Mill.
- Boat Ramps: There are 12 different ramps where you can launch your boat into the lake.
- Marinas: These are places where boats can be docked and serviced. Some marinas on the lake are Nashville Shores, Elm Hill, and Hamilton Creek.
Many groups also use the lake for water sports. These include the Tennessee Boat Club, Percy Priest Yacht Club, and the Vanderbilt Sailing Club. Rowing clubs like the Vanderbilt Rowing Club and Nashville Rowing Club also practice here.
The lake is even mentioned in a song! The musician Jason Isbell sings about Percy Priest Lake in his song 'Cover Me Up'.
Geographic data related to Percy Priest Lake at OpenStreetMap
Images for kids
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J. Percy Priest Lake impoundment of Stones River near Nashville just off the Volunteer Trail, near the Bakers Grove section
