Southwire Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Carroll County, Georgia, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 19 ft19 ft tall and 950 ft long. 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 Southwire Lake Dam
Southwire Lake Dam is a dam in Carroll, Georgia. The dam is owned by Southwire Company (private). It impounds the Buffalo Creek near Carrollton.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,199 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,016 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 02/04/2020.
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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Carrollton |
| River/Stream | Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.56556, -85.06694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,199 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,199 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 387 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,016 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,199 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Southwire Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA04049 |
| Federal ID | GA04049 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |