Buford Dam - Saddle Dike 3
Buford Dam - Saddle Dike 3 is an earth dam located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Buford Dam - Saddle Dike 3
Buford Dam - Saddle Dike 3 is a dam in Gwinnett, Georgia. The dam is owned by Usace - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Chattahoochee near Buford.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 2,300 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,554,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,034 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/23/2024.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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.
Location
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gwinnett |
| Nearest City | Buford |
| River/Stream | Chattahoochee |
| Coordinates | 34.14910, -84.05392 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,554,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,554,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,917,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1,034 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA00824 |
| Federal ID | GA00824S003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |