Percy Priest Lake
Percy Priest Lake (officially J. Percy Priest Lake) is a large freshwater reservoir approximately ten miles east of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The Stones River feeds it. Built by the J. Percy Priest Dam between miles six and seven of the river, the lake stretches 42 miles long and covers portions of Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties. It's 14,200 acres of water at a summer pool elevation of 490 feet above mean sea level. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built and operates it, using it for flood control and drinking water for the Nashville area while drawing millions of visitors annually for outdoor recreation.[1]
History and Construction
Congress first authorized the Percy Priest Dam Project in 1946. They called it "Stewarts Ferry Reservoir" back then. That changed on July 2, 1958, when Congress approved an act renaming it to honor Congressman J. Percy Priest. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction in June 1963 and finished in December 1967, spending $57,361,766 to get it done. The dam, powerhouse, lake, and public lands are run by the Corps' Nashville District.
The J. Percy Priest Dam itself is a concrete gravity structure, 92 feet high and 3,180 feet long. You can see it easily from Interstate 40, which passes nearby east of Nashville. The deepest spot, near the dam, drops nearly 100 feet.[2]
Beyond recreation, the lake serves a critical purpose in controlling floods. When heavy rains cause rivers and streams in the area to swell, the Corps releases water from the lake to protect homes and businesses from flood damage. The reservoir also provides a vital water supply for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use throughout the Nashville area.
Namesake: Congressman J. Percy Priest
The lake and dam are named after James Percy Priest (April 1, 1900 – October 12, 1956), one of Middle Tennessee's most notable twentieth-century political figures. He 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. In 1926 he joined the staff of the Nashville Tennessean. There he served as news editor, city editor, and ultimately the paper's managing editor. Writing public-interest articles as the daily's roving reporter from 1938 to 1940, he became well known among Middle Tennesseans.
His chance to serve came in 1940. He was elected to 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. He joined others in securing legislation that provided national distribution of the Salk polio vaccine. In 1956, he 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. That summer, Priest won nomination for a ninth term but died on October 12, before the general election. 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.[3][4]
The Submerged Town of Old Jefferson
The lake's creation came at a cost. Established communities in the Stones River valley were displaced when the reservoir formed. Old Jefferson, the first county seat of Rutherford County from 1803 to 1811, was inundated by the lake and demolished in the early 1960s to make way for the dam. The county seat moved to Murfreesboro in 1811. Small communities like Couchville didn't survive either, destroyed during the lake's creation.
The project required a concrete structure across the Stones River and the submerging of large areas: forests, farmlands, and even small communities. It meant relocating residents and acquiring land for the new lake. Here's where it gets strange. As workers filled the lake, they discovered something unexpected: the water was actually draining not into the town of Old Jefferson, but into undiscovered caves. The area once associated with Old Jefferson is now in the vicinity of what is Long Hunter State Park.[5]
Recreation
Percy Priest Lake ranks among the most-visited outdoor recreation destinations in Middle Tennessee. Nearly 33,000 surface acres and 213 miles of shoreline offer something for everyone. It's only a 15-minute drive from downtown Nashville, making it accessible to locals and those visiting Music City.
Boating and Marinas
Water vehicles of all kinds are welcome. Paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks share the lake with sailboats, power boats, and houseboats. Six marinas operate here: Nashville Shores, Elm Hill, Four Corners, Fate Sanders, Hamilton Creek, and Percy Priest. There are 24 public use areas including picnic areas, campgrounds, boat ramps, comfort stations, and four commercial marinas. Several recreational organizations call the lake home: the Tennessee Boat Club, Percy Priest Yacht Club, Vanderbilt Sailing Club, the Vanderbilt Rowing Club, and the Nashville Rowing Club.[6]
Fishing
Ten miles east of Nashville, Percy Priest Lake covers 14,400 acres with 213 miles of shoreline. It's considered one of the finest largemouth bass lakes in Tennessee. The water contains striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, Cherokee bass, sunfish, catfish, bluegill, and trout. Early spring is best for game fish like bass, crappie, and rockfish on the upper end of the lake. As weather warms, bluegill and catfish bite better. Bass fishing improves at night. You'll need a valid Tennessee State fishing license to fish here.[7]
Camping and Picnicking
The Natural Resource Management Office maintains three campgrounds: Anderson Road, Seven Points, and Poole Knobs. They also run eleven day-use and picnic areas, plus twelve boat launching ramps scattered around the lake. Campgrounds accommodate primitive campers, tent campers, and RV sites with full hook-ups. A Visitor Center on the west side of the dam, staffed by Corps of Engineers personnel, gives information on lake amenities and activities.[8]
Long Hunter State Park and Natural Environment
Long Hunter State Park borders the lake's eastern and southern shores. One of Tennessee's most significant public lands, it stretches along the reservoir shoreline in Davidson and Rutherford counties, encompassing nearly 3,000 acres. Three main sections exist: Couchville, Baker's Grove, and Bryant Grove, each with its own access. The 2,600 acres that make up this area became a state park in 1974.
Couchville State Natural Area on the park's back side contains a globally rare cedar glade and barrens ecosystem found in Middle Tennessee. Large populations of Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) grow here. This plant was the first endemic to Tennessee added to the federal endangered species list in 1979 and was recently delisted thanks to recovery efforts. Eastern red-cedar and blue ash woodlands and oak and hickory forests provide diverse habitats for numerous species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Turkey, white-tailed deer, and blue heron are commonly sighted along the lakeshore. You might also spot a bald eagle, sandhill crane, or red-headed woodpecker. Long Hunter State Park offers fishing and hiking and has two boat launch ramps on J. Percy Priest Lake. More than 30 miles of hiking trails range from pleasant strolls to longer jaunts for the more adventurous.[9]
Surrounding the water are 18,854 acres of public lands, with 10,000 acres 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.[10]
Cultural References
Percy Priest Lake has shown up in American popular culture. Musician Jason Isbell mentions the lake in his song "Cover Me Up". 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 made it a natural backdrop for local cultural life, from community festivals and fishing tournaments to boating regattas hosted by the sailing and rowing clubs based on its shores.[11]
See Also
- Stones River
- Cumberland River
- Long Hunter State Park
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District
- J. Percy Priest