Jim Woodruff Lock And Dam
Jim Woodruff Lock And Dam is a gravity dam located in Jackson County, Florida, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Jim Woodruff Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Jim Woodruff Lock And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Apalachicola near Chattahochee Fla.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 7,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 406,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17,200 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2025.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Florida dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Chattahochee Fla |
| River/Stream | Apalachicola |
| Coordinates | 30.70861, -84.86406 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 406,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 406,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 406,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17,200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,210,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00435 |
| Federal ID | FL00435 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |