Kelly Barnes Dam - Dam Characteristics

Dam Characteristics

The dam was modified several times, and before the flood, the final dam was 38 feet (12 m) high, 400 feet (120 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide at its crest. The dam had two uncontrolled earthen spillways. The main spillway was 380 feet (120 m) long, 60–11 feet (18–3.4 m) wide and located on the left side of the structure. A low point on the right side and away from the dam could also be used as a secondary spillway in case the reservoir levels became too high.

The embankment dam was located about 2,000 feet (610 m) upstream from the Toccoa Falls and mostly consisted of residualsoils and silt. The dam sat on a foundation of silt and stable biotite gneiss (rock).

Within the dam embankment was two masonry structures that helped support a pipe that was used as a low-level spillway and in the other, a penstock (pipe) for the hydroelectricity power plant. Both were not being used at the time of the flood.