Potato Creek Ws Str # 6 is an earth dam located in Upson County, Georgia, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 720 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Potato Creek Ws Str # 6
The primary purpose of Potato Creek Ws Str # 6 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 Towaliga River Swcd Upson County Board of Commissioners (state). It impounds the Ten Mile Creek near Smyrna Church Community.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 990 acre-feet. Completed in 1960, 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 01/31/2013. That was 13 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Upson |
| Nearest City | Smyrna Church Community |
| River/Stream | Ten Mile Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.98500, -84.39833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 990 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 990 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Towaliga River Swcd Upson County Board of Commissioners |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2013 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01613 |
| Federal ID | GA01613 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |