Mill - Canton Creek W/s Str. #6 Dam
Mill - Canton Creek W/s Str. #6 Dam is an earth dam located in Cherokee County, Georgia, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mill - Canton Creek W/s Str. #6 Dam
The primary purpose of Mill - Canton Creek W/s Str. #6 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Limestone Valley Swcd (state). It impounds the Avery Creek near Canton.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 814 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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 Georgia 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 | Georgia |
| County | Cherokee |
| Nearest City | Canton |
| River/Stream | Avery Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.17066, -84.44969 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 814 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 814 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Max Discharge | 814 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Limestone Valley SWCD |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00036 |
| Federal ID | GA00036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |