Percy Priest Lake

Percy Priest Lake (officially J. Percy Priest Lake) is a large freshwater reservoir located approximately ten miles east of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Situated in north central Tennessee, the lake is formed by J. Percy Priest Dam, positioned between miles six and seven of the Stones River, and impounds a body of water stretching 42 miles in length. The lake covers portions of Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties, and consists of 14,200 acres of water at a summer pool elevation of 490 feet above mean sea level. Built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake serves as a vital source of flood control and drinking water for the Nashville metropolitan area while drawing millions of visitors annually for outdoor recreation.

History and Construction

The Percy Priest Dam Project was first authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1946 under the name "Stewarts Ferry Reservoir." An act of Congress approved July 2, 1958, changed the name to honor Congressman J. Percy Priest. Construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began in June 1963 and was completed in December 1967, at a cost of $57,361,766. The dam, powerhouse, lake, and public lands are operated and supervised by the Corps of Engineers' Nashville District personnel.

The J. Percy Priest Dam is a concrete gravity-type structure with a height of 92 feet and a length of 3,180 feet. The deepest part of the lake, located near the dam, is nearly 100 feet deep. The dam is easily visible from Interstate 40, which passes nearby east of Nashville.

In addition to its recreational opportunities, the lake serves an important role in controlling flooding in the region. The Corps of Engineers regularly releases water from the lake when heavy rains cause rivers and streams in the area to swell, which helps protect homes and businesses from flood damage. The reservoir also provides a vital water supply for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use in the Nashville area.

Namesake: Congressman J. Percy Priest

The lake and dam bear the name of James Percy Priest (April 1, 1900 – October 12, 1956), one of Middle Tennessee's most notable twentieth-century political figures. James Percy Priest was an American teacher, journalist, and politician who represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives from 1941 until his death. Born in Maury County on April 1, 1900, Priest attended the teacher's college in Murfreesboro, George Peabody College for Teachers, and the University of Tennessee, then taught school and coached for several years in Maury County before joining the staff of the Nashville Tennessean in 1926. At the Tennessean, Priest served as news editor, city editor, and ultimately the paper's managing editor, and while writing public-interest articles as the daily's roving reporter from 1938 to 1940, he became well known among Middle Tennesseans.

His opportunity to serve them came in 1940, when he was elected to the United States Congress from Tennessee's Fifth District. As Democratic Whip for a time and later as chairman of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Priest promoted federal public health measures and joined others in securing legislation which provided national distribution of the Salk polio vaccine. In 1956, Priest refused to join the more than one hundred members of Congress who signed the so-called Southern Manifesto, which denounced the Supreme Court's Brown desegregation decision and promised to fight racial integration. Later that summer, Priest won nomination for a ninth term but died on October 12, before the general election in the fall. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project was named for Priest, a teacher and Tennessean editor who served in Congress from 1940 until his death in 1956.

The Submerged Town of Old Jefferson

One of the more striking aspects of the lake's creation was the displacement of established communities in the Stones River valley. The site of the former town of Old Jefferson was inundated by the reservoir; the community was demolished in the early 1960s for the building of the dam. Old Jefferson was the first county seat of Rutherford County from 1803 to 1811, when the county seat was moved to Murfreesboro. Several small communities, like nearby Couchville, were destroyed during the creation of the lake.

The lake's creation involved the forming of a concrete structure across the Stones River and the submerging of large areas of land, including forests, farmlands, and even some small communities. The project also required the relocation of residents and the acquisition of land to make way for the new lake. In an unusual twist, as the lake was being filled, workers realized that the water was actually draining not into the town of Old Jefferson, but into undiscovered caves. The area once associated with Old Jefferson is in the vicinity of what is now Long Hunter State Park.

Recreation

Percy Priest Lake is one of the most-visited outdoor recreation destinations in Middle Tennessee. The lake provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year. There are almost 33,000 surface acres and 213 miles of shoreline offering a range of recreational opportunities. With its convenient location, a short 15-minute drive from downtown Nashville, Percy Priest Lake offers a wide range of recreation activities for locals and for those visiting Music City.

Boating and Marinas

All types of water vehicles are welcome at the lake, from paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks to sailboats, power boats, and houseboats. Marinas at the lake include Nashville Shores, Elm Hill, Four Corners, Fate Sanders, Hamilton Creek, and Percy Priest. The lake has 24 public use areas including picnic areas, campgrounds, boat ramps, comfort stations, and four commercial marinas. The lake is also home to a number of recreational organizations such as the Tennessee Boat Club, Percy Priest Yacht Club, Vanderbilt Sailing Club, the Vanderbilt Rowing Club, and the Nashville Rowing Club.

Fishing

Located ten miles east of Nashville, Percy Priest Lake covers an area of 14,400 acres and has 213 miles of shoreline, and is considered one of the finest largemouth bass lakes in the state of Tennessee. Fish species available within the lake include striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, Cherokee bass, sunfish, catfish, bluegill, and trout. Fishing is generally best in early spring on the upper end of the lake for game fish such as bass, crappie, rockfish, and hybrid. As weather warms, bluegill and catfish can be caught as well, while other game fish such as bass can be caught at night. All anglers are required to hold a valid Tennessee State fishing license.

Camping and Picnicking

The Natural Resource Management Office maintains three campgrounds — Anderson Road, Seven Points, and Poole Knobs — eleven day-use/picnic areas, and twelve boat launching ramps at various locations around the lake. Campgrounds accommodate primitive campers, tent campers, and sites with full RV hook-ups. A Visitor Center located on the west side of the dam, staffed by Corps of Engineers personnel, provides information on all lake amenities and activities.

Long Hunter State Park and Natural Environment

Bordering the lake's eastern and southern shores is Long Hunter State Park, one of Tennessee's most significant public lands. Stretched along the reservoir shoreline of Percy Priest Lake in Davidson and Rutherford counties, Long Hunter State Park encompasses nearly 3,000 acres divided into three main sections — Couchville, Baker's Grove, and Bryant Grove — each with its own access. The 2,600 acres which make up this area became a state park in 1974.

Couchville State Natural Area on the back side of the park contains the globally rare cedar glade and barrens ecosystem in Middle Tennessee, featuring large populations of Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), the first plant endemic to Tennessee added to the federal endangered species list in 1979 and recently delisted thanks to recovery efforts. Eastern red-cedar and blue ash woodlands and oak and hickory forests add to the variety of habitats for numerous species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Species commonly sighted along the lakeshore include turkey, white-tailed deer, and blue heron. Visitors may also see a bald eagle, sandhill crane, or red-headed woodpecker. Long Hunter State Park offers a variety of recreational activities including fishing and hiking and has two boat launch ramps on J. Percy Priest Lake. The more than 30 miles of hiking trails provide a variety of terrain and habitats and range from pleasant strolls to longer jaunts for the more adventurous.

The water is surrounded by 18,854 acres of public lands, of which 10,000 acres are devoted to wildlife management. The Corps of Engineers property around Percy Priest Lake forms the Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which is managed in coordination with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and divided into northern, southern, and middle sections.

Cultural References

Percy Priest Lake has made appearances in American popular culture. The lake is mentioned in the song "Cover Me Up" by musician Jason Isbell. It was also the filming location for the 2013 Grammy Award-winning song "Pontoon," recorded by American country band Little Big Town. The lake's proximity to Nashville's entertainment industry and its scenic landscapes have made it a recurring backdrop for local cultural life, from community festivals and fishing tournaments to boating regattas hosted by the several sailing and rowing clubs based on its shores.

See Also

• Stones River
• Cumberland River
• Long Hunter State Park
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District
• J. Percy Priest