Cornish Creek Reservoir Dam
Cornish Creek Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Newton County, Georgia, built in 1991. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cornish Creek Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Cornish Creek Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Newton County Board Of Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Cornish Creek.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 820 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 24 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 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 03/14/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Newton |
| River/Stream | Cornish Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.65000, -83.80194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 820 acres |
| Drainage Area | 24 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Newton County Board of Commissioners |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/14/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA05174 |
| Federal ID | GA05174 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |