Georgia Dam Removal Handbook

The GA-ACT developed this document to assist project managers and dam owners through the assessment, planning  and permitting process for removing or modifying a dam. Freshly updated in September 2025, the Georgia Dam Removal Handbook is organized into sections that correspond to a typical workflow for a dam removal or modification project, with easy-to-find and up-to-date references for regulations and resources in Georgia. These sections include:

• Research the Dam
• Research the River and Surrounding Landscape
• Understanding the Regulatory Process for Obtaining a Permit for Removal of Dams in Georgia
• Planning and Design of the Project
• Implementation/Deconstruction
• Post-Removal Actions

In addition, the handbook contains case studies on three recent projects with the state:

• The Eagle & Phenix and City Mills Dams, Columbus, GA 
• The Nature Conservancy, 3 Dams in Marion County
• White Dam, Athens, GA 

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