North Highlands Dam
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Georgia , United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Georgia Power |
North Highlands Dam is a engineering structure located on the Chattahoochee River at the northern boundary of Columbus, Georgia, roughly north of the city center. Constructed in 1899 to provide power to Bibb City Mill, it ranks among the earliest major dams established in the Southern United States. Originally owned by Columbus Electric and Power Company, ownership transferred to Georgia Power following their acquisition in 1930.
History
Positioned along the fall line, Columbus utilized the elevation drop of the Chattahoochee River to generate industrial power. The North Highlands Dam was built specifically to energize Bibb City Mill, which, at the dawn of the 20th century, operated more spindles than any other mill nationwide. Besides powering this mill, the dam also supplied energy to local corn and wheat mills as well as sawmills. After being nearly destroyed by flooding in 1901, it was reconstructed in 1903 featuring two powerhouses: one dedicated to producing electricity for general consumption, and another employing a rope drive system to transmit power directly to Bibb City Mill—a method that remained operational until 1954.
Major renovations took place in 1963 when older equipment was replaced with a four-unit generator capable of producing . The dam forms Bibb Pond, which spans and includes of shoreline at an altitude of above sea level. Currently, the dam operates fully automatically and is controlled remotely from Bartletts Ferry Dam. Georgia Power continues to hold ownership.
Discharge
Over a span of 31 years from 1929 through 1960, the dam's average discharge measured . Variations in rainfall within the Chattahoochee River watershed lead to notable seasonal fluctuations. In 1960, peak discharge reached in April while the lowest flow dropped to in October. Recorded extremes during the period from 1929 to 1960 include a maximum flow of on November 28, 1948, and a minimum flow of on both October 23 and November 14, 1931. The highest discharge ever documented occurred on March 16, 1929, registering .
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation, Columbus, Muscogee County, GA:
- 1899 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- ACF River Basin
- Buildings and structures in Columbus, Georgia
- Buildings and structures in Muscogee County, Georgia
- Buildings and structures in Russell County, Alabama
- Dams completed in 1899
- Dams in Alabama
- Dams in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Georgia Power dams
- Historic American Engineering Record in Georgia (U.S. state)