Mill - Canton Creek W/s Structure No. 7 Dam
Mill - Canton Creek W/s Structure No. 7 Dam is an earth dam located in Cherokee County, Georgia, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mill - Canton Creek W/s Structure No. 7 Dam
The primary purpose of Mill - Canton Creek W/s Structure No. 7 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 Limestone Valley Soil & Water Conservation District (state). It impounds the Canton Creek near Buffington.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 333 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,002 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,926 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 04/04/2019.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | Buffington |
| River/Stream | Canton Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.22618, -84.39291 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 333 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,002 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,002 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,926 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,002 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Limestone Valley Soil & Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/04/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00037 |
| Federal ID | GA00037 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |