Georgia Dam Removal Handbook

The GA-ACT Regulatory and Education Outreach Subcommittees developed this document to assist practitioners and dam owners through the assessment, planning  and permitting process for removing or modifying a dam. This handbook, entitled “Removal or Modification of Obsolete Dams in Georgia: A Handbook for Project Managers and Dam Owners,” is organized into sections that correspond to a typical workflow for a dam removal or modification project, with easy-to-find references to regulations and resources relevant to projects 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 (2012)
• The Nature Conservancy, 3 Dams in Marion County (2020)
• White Dam, Athens, GA (2018)

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