Unsafe Dams in Georgia and Henry County

Unsafe Dams in Georgia and Henry County
This is not a big secret in the government and planning areas of Henry County as the Georgia Safe Dams Dept and the Army Corps of Engineers has put together reports on Category II and Category I dams.  The Category one dams could pose a threat to life.  This problem was announced in the Henry Herald Newspaper in 2004.  Then, again in 2008 another article came out about these dams.  Then in 2013, it was announced that Henry County has 15 category 1 dams.  Four communities with these dams have approached the County for assistance with these repairs.  They are Lake Dow, Lake Dow North, Swan Lake and Lake Cindy.  At that time $28, 470 was allocated to explore what needed to be done to fix the dams.  A consulting firm would be called in to study and present plans to the County.  In 2004, it was mentioned that it would take at least $1 million  to repair each dam.  The same was reported again in 2013.  Commissioner Preston said that he worries about the loss of money from taxes from Lake Dow if they lose the lakes.  He said it hurts District 2.  He should be worried about Lake Cindy which is in his area, but it has mobile homes around it and they don't bring in the money like those homes in District 3 where Lake Dow is located.  Commissioner Holmes made it known that he concurs with Preston in this matter.  He thinks it might be a step in the right direction for Swan Lake.  That's real intelligent of him. Now again another article from the Neighbor Newspaper of December 30, 2015 described the same problems.  And once again $28, 620 was allocated to do another study on the same dams by Schnabel Dam Engineering, Inc. of Alpharetta as of September 2015.  Then, again in January 2016 the County held a meeting to discuss TAD's for this project.  The question that begs to be answered is how many times is the county going to spend money on studies and do nothing? Some have asked does a dam have to fail and cost lives before action is taken? Where are the other 11 dams that are considered category 1 dams in the county and why aren't they being looked at for repairs as well?  An article in the Jacksonville, Florida newspaper from July 2013 notes that Georgia has 500 dams that are rated as a high hazard according to the Army Corps of Engineers.  This is something that needs to be discussed here in Georgia and we have to find out more from other states.

Our References are:
1. The Henry Herald Newspaper 2004, 2008, 2013, and 2016.
2. The Henry Neighbor Newspaper 2015.
3. The Henry County Update Newsletter 2013.
4. The Jacksonville, Fla. News 2013.

Staff of the Henry Community News