Big Cedar Creek Ws Str # 48

About Big Cedar Creek Ws Str # 48

The primary purpose of Big Cedar Creek Ws Str # 48 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 Coosa River Swcd Polk County Board Of Commissioners (state). It impounds the Little Cedar Creek near Cedartown.

The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 735 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,415 acre-feet. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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 03/24/2016. 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.

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