Silver Lake Dam
Silver Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in DeKalb County, Georgia, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Silver Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Silver Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Silver Lake Civic Association (private). It impounds the Chatahoochee near Chamblee.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 235 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 207 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 689 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. 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 01/07/2021.
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 | DeKalb |
| Nearest City | Chamblee |
| River/Stream | Chatahoochee |
| Coordinates | 33.88936, -84.33782 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 235 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 207 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 207 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 689 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Silver Lake Civic Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01322 |
| Federal ID | GA01322 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |