Nottely Dam
Nottely Dam is a rockfill dam located in Union County, Georgia, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nottely Dam
The primary purpose of Nottely Dam 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Nottely River near Blairsville.
The dam stands 197 feet tall and stretches 2,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,970 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 216,147 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 214 square miles. Completed in 1942, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/14/2025.
At 197 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Union |
| Nearest City | Blairsville |
| River/Stream | Nottely River |
| Coordinates | 34.95824, -84.08832 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 197 ft |
| Dam Height | 197 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 216,147 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 216,147 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 174,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,970 acres |
| Drainage Area | 214 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 189,970 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA29101 |
| Federal ID | GA29101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |