Lake Matthews Dam
Lake Matthews Dam is an earth dam located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Matthews Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Matthews Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Brightwater Hoa (private). It impounds the Poole Creek near Five Forks Community.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 345 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 272 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,250 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/27/2016. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Gwinnett |
| Nearest City | Five Forks Community |
| River/Stream | Poole Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.89694, -84.03814 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 345 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,250 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Brightwater HOA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/27/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00576 |
| Federal ID | GA00576 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |