George W. Andrews Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Early County, Alabama, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 59 ft59 ft tall and 775 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About George W. Andrews Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of George W. Andrews Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Chattahoochee River near Gordon.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 775 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,540 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,210 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/30/2025.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Early |
| Nearest City | Gordon |
| River/Stream | Chattahoochee River |
| Coordinates | 31.25944, -85.11058 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 775 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18,180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,540 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,210 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 44,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01433 |
| Federal ID | AL01433 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |