Buford Dam
From Atlanta Water Shortage Wiki
Lake Lanier is the reservoir created behind the dam, named after poet Sidney Lanier.
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Planning and agreements
Initial authorization for construction of Buford Dam and Lake Lanier was contained in section 2 of The River and Harbor Act, which was approved by Congress on July 25, 1946.
The "authorized purposes" is a subject of controversy in the long-running litigation between Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Alabama and Florida contend that the project was authorized for three purposes--flood control, hydropower and navigation. Georgia contends that the project was also authorized for water supply. Unfortunately, the authorizing legislation does not specifically enumerate the "authorized purposes" of Lake Lanier. The legislation simply “adopted” and “authorized” a long list of water projects “to be prosecuted under the direction of the Secretary of War and supervision of the Chief of Engineers, in accordance with the plans and subject to the conditions recommended by the Chief of Engineers in the respective reports herein designated.” 60 Stat. 634. The list of authorized projects included certain works within the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint (“ACF”) River Basin, including the Buford Project, which were to be prosecuted in accordance with “the report of the Chief of Engineers, dated May 13, 1946.”
The report of the Chief of Engineers, in turn, recommended approval of a “Survey Report” prepared by the Division Engineer. The Survey Report explains the recommended plan of development together with its expected benefits.
In support of their argument that water supply has always been an authorized purpose of Lake Lanier, the Georgia parties point to the fact that the Survey Report specifically stated that the recommended development at Buford “would ensure an adequate municipal and industrial water supply for the Atlanta area.” The Public Notice for the Buford Project also stated that the Buford project would “ensure an adequate municipal and industrial water supply for the Atlanta metropolitan area.” This was an important consideration locally, because communities in North Georgia were already experiencing water supply shortages at the time of the Survey Report. Likewise, in testimony before Congress before the project was authorized, Colonel Feringa of the Corps of Engineers stated that Buford Dam would not be a “power project, mainly,” but that it would instead be “a ‘multi-purpose project’ that would “provide power; also water for the City of Atlanta, for water conservation; also provide water to improve the low-water flow, replenish the low-water flow of the whole Chattahoochee River."
The Definite Project report for Buford Dam, which was prepared in 1949 prior to its construction, states that “increased water supply for Atlanta” was among the “primary purposes” of Buford Dam. The Corps confirmed that water supply is among the principal authorized purposes of Buford Dam in a report submitted to Congress in 1992 in response to a mandate under the Water Resources Development Act of 1990. This fact is also reflected in the Corps' official regulations at 33 CFR 222.5 Appendix E.
Florida and Alabama argue that water supply is not an "authorized purpose" of the project because no costs were allocated to water supply when the cost allocation report was prepared in 1960. While acknowledging this point, the Georgia parties contend the original authorizing legislation, and the surveys and reports approved by Congress, are the controlling documents.
This matter is currently the subject of litigation and will be decided by the Middle District of Florida in connection with the Tri State Water Rights Litigation.
In [1960?], the Army Engineers first surveyed a narrow river valley at the boundary of Gwinnett and Forsyth Counties. The first land purchased was Shadburn's Ferry. All the farmland and riverfront property in the Chattahoochee River Valley south of Belton, Georgia below 1072 feet, along with a substantial additional perimeter, were acquired by the state. Those who would not sell had their property condemned, then given fair market value.
Funding
While the dam was authorized in 1946, the first funds for the project did not come untill 1948 when the project received $250,000.00 in 1948 and an additional $450,000.00 in 1949 for advanced planning and other studies. This money was not specifically appropriated to the Buford Dam Project but rather additional monies taken from funded projects already under construction. Budgeted funding for construction and land acquisition for the massive public works project was first approved for the project in late 1949 as part of a multi-million dollar public works appropriation for the State of Georgia which saw $750,000.00 go to Buford Dam. A part of the 1950 Federal budget, this money was used to complete the initial planning and design phases of the project such as the powerhouse design and for the start of construction. From the planning stages in 1948 to its completion, the project totaled $44 million. Each year the Army Corps of Engineers had to go before Congress in order to acquire the necessary funding they would need for the project. The largest single outlay of money for the project was in the 1956 fiscal year appropriations of $11,830,000.00. The smallest appropriation was $527,000.00 for the 1958 fiscal year.
Contractors
The initial contractor for the first phase of construction was a Minneapolis firm who was awarded the contract on June 7, 1951 for $2.8 million, which also included construction of two saddle dikes and an access road. They sub-contracted the work out to Gates and Fox Inc. of Grants Pass, Ore. They drilled three penstocks and a sluice tunnel 246 feet in length to allow for power production and emergency releases of water downstream.
Construction
On March 1, 1950, a ceremonial groundbreaking on the Gwinnett County side of the dam site drew thousands to the site of what is now Buford Dam.
During construction of Buford Dam, it is estimated that 14,000 acres of forest were cleared and thousands of landowners were displaced. Many of the buildings, trees, and structures sub-merged by this impoundment of the Chattahoochee River remain underwater today. Some structures such as the grandstands of the old Gainsville Raceway are starting to rise above the level of the lake due to the drought.
In order to create the dam, a channel was blasted and the powerhouse constructed. Then the Chattahoochee was diverted through the open gates of the powerhouse and the newly created channel while the saddlebacks were built. Once completed the saddlebacks were allowed to sit in place. On February 1, 1956 the gates of the intake structure on the dam were closed and the first power was generated at Buford Dam on June 17, 1957. Dignitaries dedicated Buford Dam on October 9, 1957, using 3 Coca-Cola bottles filled with water from the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers. Full pool level of 1071' AMSL was reached on May 25, 1959.
Flood Control Sluice
Number of sluices.......................................1
Diameter-feet..............................................13.25
Discharge capacity at elev. 1,085-cfs..........11,590
Discharge capacity at elev. 1,070-cfs..........11,030
Discharge capacity at elev. 1,035-cfs..........10,080
Discharge capacity at elev. 919(Invert)-cfs..0
Power Plant
The power plant at Buford Dam serves as a source of hydroelectric power, producing 173,582 megawatts in 1998 (This electricity is equivalent to the needs of approximately 25,000 homes
Water Release
Buford Dam releases 2+ billion gallons a day and on November 15, 2007 released 2.6 billion gallons the highest since May 2006.
Water always comes from the release at an elevation of 919 feet above sea level at the bottom of the lake, or the level of the river at the dam. Water can flow until the lake is totally dry. The dam is able to function normally down to 1035 ft AMSL. Below that level, the dam will still be able to release water, however the power generating capability will be either diminished or non-existing due to head pressure.
Other
- Coordinates: 34°9'38"N 84°4'28"W
- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was forced to detonate a pipe bomb found in rocks by a fisherman in the vicinity of the Buford Dam powerhouse at Lake Lanier on December 8, 2004. Police closed off access to the dam during the operation.
