Lake Arrowhead Dam
Lake Arrowhead Dam is an earth dam located in Cherokee County, Georgia, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Arrowhead Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Arrowhead Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Purcell Company, Inc. (private). It impounds the Lost Town Creek near Waleska.
The dam stands 107 feet tall and stretches 1,982 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 450 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,731 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5,472 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 03/10/2020.
At 107 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Waleska |
| River/Stream | Lost Town Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.28956, -84.59133 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 107 ft |
| Dam Height | 107 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,982 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,731 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,731 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,725 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 450 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5,472 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,731 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Purcell Company, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA02364 |
| Federal ID | GA02364 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |