Rc&d Watershed Structure Y-16

About Rc&d Watershed Structure Y-16

The primary purpose of Rc&d Watershed Structure Y-16 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 Gwinnett County Board Of Commissioners Gwinnett County Swcd (state). It impounds the Unknown near Gloster.

The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 355 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,415 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,733 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 02/25/2016. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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.

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