Lake Franklin Dam
Lake Franklin Dam is an earth dam located in Harris County, Georgia, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Franklin Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Franklin Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Georgia Dnr (state). It impounds the Bethlehem Creek.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 886 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 677 acre-feet. Completed in 1935, 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 02/01/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Harris |
| River/Stream | Bethlehem Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.82741, -84.77666 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 886 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 677 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 677 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Georgia DNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/01/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01662 |
| Federal ID | GA01662 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |