Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission 4310 Lexington Road P.O. Box 8024 Athens Georgia 30603 Tel. 706-552-4470 Email gswcc gaswcc.org http //gaswcc.georgia.gov Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission State Board Garland Thompson (Chairman) Douglas Ga. Dennis T. Brown (Vice Chairman/NACD Representative) Commerce Ga. Carl E. Brack Carrollton Ga. David T. Hays Covington Ga. William H. "Hal" Haddock Jr. Damascus Ga. GSWCC Executive Staff Brent Dykes (Executive Director) Athens Ga. Email bdykes gaswcc.org Dave Eigenberg (Deputy Executive Director) Dawson Ga. Email deigenberg gaswcc.org Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors Danny Hogan (President) Central Georgia SWCD Dan Bennett (Vice President) Walton County SWCD Martin McLendon (Secretary-Treasurer) Flint River SWCD Map of flood control dams in Georgia The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) was formed to support Georgia s 40 Soil and Water Conservation Districts that assist landowners in protecting and developing their soil and water resources. Soil and Water Conservation Districts sponsor flood control dams in Georgia but many people are not aware that they are living either upstream or downstream from a dam. Often the dams existed before homes roads and bridges were built to meet population increases. To assist GSWCC has posted a listing (by county) of the state s flood control dams which can be found at http //www.gaswcc.org/wsd-search.php Maintaining Georgia s 357 Flood Control Dams Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Georgia has 357 flood control dams. While these dams were built for agricultural flood control many of these dams now protect buildings roads bridges farms businesses and families that are located downstream as a result of Georgia s rapid urban growth. State safety experts believe that more than 40 percent of Georgia s flood control dams would result in probable loss of human life if they suddenly released their water due to improper operation or dam failure. The average flood control dam in Georgia is more than 50 years old and the average cost to rehabilitate a dam is more than $1.5 million. Without more flexible and innovative means of funding it will take Georgia more than 175 years to complete rehabilitation of its dams. Soil and Water Conservation Districts have no guaranteed funding source to maintain their dams and unlike hydroelectric dams flood control dams do not generate revenue. Providing federal funds helps but in the past dam sponsors have been unable to take advantage of matching NRCS funding because sponsors lack funds to match federal dollars for assessment and rehabilitation. State funding priorities and local issues must be considered when federal funds are allocated. Greatest needs in Georgia are Funding to conduct current assessments of all flood control dams in Georgia. Funding to rehab high priority dams. Allowing use of state engineering standards for federally-funded dam rehabilitation. Georgia s Flood Control Dams By the Numbers 357 flood control dams in Georgia protect roads bridges homes businesses farms and people $24 million in annual benefits are provided by flood control dams in Georgia according to USDA-NRCS 19 of Georgia s 40 Soil and Water Conservation Districts sponsor flood control dams 32 Georgia counties contain flood control dams 150 flood control dams in Georgia are classified as Category I by the State of Georgia where improper operation or dam failure could result in probable loss of human life 15 Category I flood control dams have undergone rehabilitation 135 Category I flood control dams are in need of rehabilitation 1953 is the completion year of the oldest flood control dams in Georgia $7.5 million in federal funding is required to rehabilitate the four highest priority flood control dams in Georgia