Morgan Falls Dam facts for kids
The Morgan Falls Dam is a special dam on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. It creates a lake called Bull Sluice Lake. This dam helps make electricity for homes in the Atlanta area. It's located near Sandy Springs and Cobb County.
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Morgan Falls Dam: A Powerhouse for Atlanta
Building the Dam
The Morgan Falls Dam was first built in 1904 by a company called Georgia Power. Its main job back then was to create electricity for Atlanta's streetcars. Streetcars were like electric buses that ran on tracks in the city.
When it was first built, the dam was the biggest hydroelectric power plant in Georgia. It could make 10,500 kilowatts of power. This was a huge amount of energy for the time!
How the Dam Got Its Name
The dam was named after the mother of S. Morgan Smith. He was the president of Georgia Power when the dam was being built. Her maiden name was Morgan, so they named the dam in her honor.
Upgrades and New Jobs
In 1924, the dam was rebuilt and made even stronger. It could then produce 15,000 kilowatts of power. That's enough electricity for about 4,400 homes today!
Later, in 1957, the dam was made taller. This was done to help control the water flow from a much larger dam upstream, called Buford Dam. Morgan Falls Dam helps make sure Atlanta gets enough water when it's needed most.
The dam is about 273 meters (896 feet) long and 17 meters (56 feet) tall. It is allowed to produce up to 16,800 kilowatts of power.
Nature Around the Dam
A New Home for Wildlife
Before the dam was built, the Chattahoochee River in this area had many fast-moving rapids. After the dam was constructed, the river upstream changed into a large wetland.
This wetland is now a very important home for many animals. It's a resting place for birds that are migrating, or flying long distances. Many different kinds of waterfowl, like ducks, live there. You can also find songbirds, beavers, muskrats, and many types of reptiles and amphibians.
