Lake Blue Ridge
Encyclopedia
Lake Blue Ridge is a reservoir
in Fannin County
, in the northern portion of the U.S. state
of Georgia
. The lake encompasses 3300 acres (1,335.5 ha) of water, and a "full summer pool" of approximately 1681 feet (512.4 m) above mean sea level
. It is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority
and is primarily fed by the Toccoa River.
Blue Ridge Lake was created by the completion of Blue Ridge Dam
and has approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) of shoreline and a flood storage capacity of 68550 acre.ft. The lake's levels fluctuate by about 20 feet (6.1 m) in a typical year.
, began slowly lowering the elevation of Lake Blue Ridge in July 2010. This rehabilitation project aims to repair the dam penstock
and to stabilize both the upstream and downstream faces of the dam.
The project aims to reduce the water level in the lake to approximately 1630 feet above sea level around the middle of October.
The portion of work requiring the drawdown was completed by TVA in April 2011, and refilling the lake began.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Fannin County
Fannin County, Georgia
Fannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
, in the northern portion of 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 lake encompasses 3300 acres (1,335.5 ha) of water, and a "full summer pool" of approximately 1681 feet (512.4 m) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. It is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
and is primarily fed by the Toccoa River.
Blue Ridge Lake was created by the completion of Blue Ridge Dam
Blue Ridge Dam
Blue Ridge Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Toccoa River in Fannin County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the uppermost of four dams on the Toccoa/Ocoee River owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority...
and has approximately 60 miles (96.6 km) of shoreline and a flood storage capacity of 68550 acre.ft. The lake's levels fluctuate by about 20 feet (6.1 m) in a typical year.
Drawdown 2010
As part of the Blue Ridge Dam Rehabilitation project, the Tennessee Valley AuthorityTennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
, began slowly lowering the elevation of Lake Blue Ridge in July 2010. This rehabilitation project aims to repair the dam penstock
Penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the technology of wooden watermills....
and to stabilize both the upstream and downstream faces of the dam.
The project aims to reduce the water level in the lake to approximately 1630 feet above sea level around the middle of October.
The portion of work requiring the drawdown was completed by TVA in April 2011, and refilling the lake began.
External links
- Blue Ridge Reservoir — official TVA site
- Operating Guide — for Lake Blue Ridge at the TVA site