Carters Dam
Encyclopedia
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
located south of Chatsworth
Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth is a city in Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,531 at the 2000 census, but was estimated around 3,890 as of the 2005 census. The city is the county seat of Murray County...
in Murray County
Murray County, Georgia
Murray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 36,506. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 40,664. The county seat is Chatsworth.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and west of Ellijay
Ellijay, Georgia
Ellijay is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Gilmer County.Ellijay lies where two rivers, the Ellijay and the Cartecay, come together to form the Coosawattee River...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The dam is 445 ft (136 m) tall and is situated 26.8 miles (43.1 km) above the mouth of the Coosawattee River
Coosawattee River
The Coosawattee River is a river located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Georgia.The river begins at the confluence of the Ellijay River and Cartecay River in the city of Ellijay in Gilmer County. The river flows west through the foothills of the north Georgia mountains.In Murray...
. The drainage area is 376 square miles (974 km²).
The dam took 15 years to build and was completed in 1977. The area of the primary flood control pool is 3,880 acres (16 km²). The top elevation of the dam is 1,112.3 feet (339 m). The top width of the dam is 40 feet (12.2 m).
The dam has a diversion tunnel that is 2,407 feet (733.7 m). It is a horseshoe shape with a bottom width of 23 feet (7 m) and a maximum height of 23 feet (7 m). The dam is constructed of rock and earth and is the tallest earthen dam east of Mississippi river. The lake is the deepest manmade reservoir east of Mississippi river.
Below the dam is a 1,000 acres (4 km²) retention and re-regulation lake. The hydroelectric plant is of the pumped storage type. That is, during off-peak hours the water from the retention lake is pumped back up into the lake for use in generating power during the next time of peak demand
Peak demand
Peak demand is used to refer to a historically high point in the sales record of a particular product. In terms of energy use, peak demand describes a period of strong consumer demand.- Peak load :...
. The dam's power station contains 2 X 125 MW Francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
s and 2 X 125 MW Francis pump turbines for used in pumped-storage.
The lake is more than 450 feet (137 m) deep and has 62 miles (100 km) of shoreline without any private docks or other development.