Cardinal Lake Dam
Cardinal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cardinal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cardinal Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cardinal Lake Civic Association (private). It impounds the Knox Branch near Duluth.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 435 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 380 acre-feet. Completed in 1959, 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 06/01/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Gwinnett |
| Nearest City | Duluth |
| River/Stream | Knox Branch |
| Coordinates | 33.97418, -84.12969 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 435 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 380 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 380 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cardinal Lake Civic Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00581 |
| Federal ID | GA00581 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |