Ford Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Georgia, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 490 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 Ford Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ford Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mrs. Nina C. A. Tucker Ms. Lela Hinds Peterson (private). It impounds the Unknown near Sams Lake Environs.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Completed in 1972, 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 01/19/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Sams Lake Environs |
| River/Stream | Unknown |
| Coordinates | 33.41203, -84.45169 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mrs. Nina C. A. Tucker Ms. Lela Hinds Peterson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/19/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA02030 |
| Federal ID | GA02030 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |