The size of a dam may be classified in several ways, often determined by local laws.
Parameters used to classify the size of a dam:
(1) volume of water impounded (in acre•feet or cubic meters, with 1 acre•foot = 1,231.707 cubic meters; 1 million cubic meter = 1 MCM = 811.881 acre•feet)
(2) height of dam in feet or meters (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Dams may be classified into various sizes:
(1) 3 or 4 classes by term: very large, large, medium, small
(2) 3 or 4 classes by roman numeral, with Class I the largest
(3) 3 or 4 classes by letter, with Class A the largest
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Volume
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Height (Depth)
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Term in Georgia
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> 50,000 acre•ft
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> 100 feet
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very large
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1,000.01 to 50,000
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35.01 to 100 feet
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large
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500.01 to 1,000 acre•ft
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25.01 to 35 feet
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medium
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<= 500 acre•ft
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<= 25 feet
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small
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Some jurisdictions recognize very small dams with <= 15 acreªft of water AND <= 6 feet in depth.
