South Fork River Ws Str # 31
South Fork River Ws Str # 31 is an earth dam located in Madison County, Georgia, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About South Fork River Ws Str # 31
The primary purpose of South Fork River Ws Str # 31 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 Madison County Board Of Commissioners Broad River Swcd (state). It impounds the Biger Creek near Diamond Hill.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 808 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,178 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,089 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Diamond Hill |
| River/Stream | Biger Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.04774, -83.27649 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 808 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,178 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,178 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,089 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Madison County Board of Commissioners Broad River SWCD |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00428 |
| Federal ID | GA00428 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |