Grove River Ws Str # 59
Grove River Ws Str # 59 is an earth dam located in Banks County, Georgia, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Grove River Ws Str # 59
The primary purpose of Grove River Ws Str # 59 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 Banks County Board Of Commissioners;broad River S&wcd-washington (state). It impounds the Grove Creek near Gillsville Community.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,640 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 67 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,022 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,872 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/01/2012. That was 13 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Banks |
| Nearest City | Gillsville Community |
| River/Stream | Grove Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.33972, -83.61306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,640 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,022 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,022 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 401 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 67 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,872 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Banks County Board of Commissioners;Broad River S&wcd-Washington |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/01/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01834 |
| Federal ID | GA01834 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |