Investigation of the Failure of Kelly Barnes Dam, Toccoa, GA

Kelly Bames Dam was about 38 feet high, 400 feet long, and impounded about 40 acres of water in the normal pool. It was located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, formerly Toccoa Falls Bible Institute. It was located about \12 mile upstream from Toccoa Falls and about % mi les upstream from student dormitories/trailers located in the flood plain. The watershed drainage area at the dam was 4.57 square miles. At the highest pool level reached on the night of the failure the lake contained approximately 630 acre-feet of water. On November 6, 1977 at about 1:30 a.m. the dam failed. The resulting flood took 39 lives. Damage estimates were reported varying from 2.5-30 million dollars. Based on year 2002 dollars the upper figure may be more correct. In either instance damages were extensive to the Toccoa area and especially to the campus of Toccoa Falls College. 5 pp.