Buford Dam Tour

The construction of Buford Dam was authorized by Congress in 1946. Construction began in 1951 and was completed in 1956. Buford Dam was built to retain the Chattahoochee River about 25 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, Ga. The result of the project, Lake Sidney Lanier, is also fed by the Chestatee River and welcomes ~13 million visits annually. Lake Sidney Lanier is the most-visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project. The Buford Hydropower Plant first generated power in 1957. The Plant consists of two 127 MW hydropower generators and one 7 MW hydropower generator. Current authorized purposes of the Project are Flood Risk Management, Hydropower, Navigation, Recreation, Environmental Stewardship, Water Supply/Storage/Quality. After the tour, you will hear a presentation that describes the benefits and risks of Buford Dam.

*Park outside the large gate and we will meet your group there. You will pass a gatehouse with an automated fee station at the bottom of the hill. Do not pay the fee.