Amicalola Creek W/s Str. # 4

About Amicalola Creek W/s Str. # 4

The primary purpose of Amicalola Creek W/s Str. # 4 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 Upper Chattahoochee River Swcd (state). It impounds the Gab Creek near Dawsonville.

The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 496 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 809 acre-feet. Completed in 1962, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/29/2016. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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.