Lake Louella Dam
Lake Louella Dam is an earth dam located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Louella Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Louella Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gwinnett County (local government). It impounds the Bennett Creek near County Water Pump Station.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 145 acre-feet. Completed in 1960, 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 07/13/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | County Water Pump Station |
| River/Stream | Bennett Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.01792, -84.08528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 145 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gwinnett County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01819 |
| Federal ID | GA01819 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |