Sims Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Gwinnett County, Georgia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Sims Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sims Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Suwanee (local government). It impounds the Unknown near Suwanee.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 148 acre-feet.
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 04/03/2013. 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 | Gwinnett |
| Nearest City | Suwanee |
| River/Stream | Unknown |
| Coordinates | 34.07469, -84.07661 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Suwanee |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2013 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01822 |
| Federal ID | GA01822 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |