Berry College Reservoir Dam

About Berry College Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Berry College Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Berry College (private). It impounds the Beech Creek near Mount Berry.

The dam stands 74 feet tall and stretches 277 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,562 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 390 square miles. Completed in 1928, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/16/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.

At 74 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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.