Hartwell Dam - Saddle Dike 1 is an earth dam located in Hart County, Georgia, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 2,580 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Hartwell Dam - Saddle Dike 1
The primary purpose of Hartwell Dam - Saddle Dike 1 is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by USACE - Savannah District (federal). It impounds the Savannah River near Hartwell.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 2,580 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,438,700 acre-feet. Completed in 1962, 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 04/06/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Hart |
| Nearest City | Hartwell |
| River/Stream | Savannah River |
| Coordinates | 34.33724, -82.83811 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,438,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,438,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,550,000 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | USACE - Savannah District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01702 |
| Federal ID | GA01702S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |