Canton, GA – (January 18, 2007) – Canton’s long-awaited dream of its own reservoir is rapidly taking shape at the site just off Bluffs Parkway. Motorists may have noticed all the clearing going on in the area, but soon they will see the dam rising up as well. A conventional concrete plant and a roller compacted concrete (RCC) mixing plant have been built on site. RCC uses the same basic ingredients as conventional concrete but contains less cement. It’s also more economical for large construction projects. Crews began hauling truckloads of RCC to the dam in late December. A system of conveyors was set up in early January to move the RCC directly to the dam. With crews working around the clock, the dam itself will quickly become visible from Bluffs Parkway.

South of the dam site, drivers will notice more construction activity around Riverstone Parkway this spring. That’s when construction on a large pump station is expected to begin. With a pumping capacity of 44 million gallons per day (mgd), the pump station will ultimately pull water from the Etowah River and pump it into the Hickory Log Creek Reservoir. Located behind the Waffle House on the south side of the parkway, construction will involve erecting a “cofferdam” on the north side of the river. A cofferdam is a temporary structure that allows construction crews a water-free environment in which to work. This is critical as they will have to excavate part of the river bed for placement of the raw water intake. The cofferdam will only extend about a third of the way into the river so that the flow will not be stopped. A tunnel will connect the intake to the pump station and then a 42-inch diameter pipe, slightly more than a mile long, will connect the pump station to the reservoir.

To keep up with the latest construction activities, residents can visit the project’s website at www.hickorylogcreek.com .

The Hickory Log Creek dam and reservoir project is a joint effort between the City of Canton and the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (CCMWA). The reservoir and dam will be located north and west of Bluffs Parkway. The dam spanning Hickory Log Creek will be one of the largest in Georgia not built by the Corps of Engineers or Georgia Power. Dam construction is expected to be complete in the fall of 2007. The reservoir will cover 411 acres, feature 15 miles of shoreline, and hold nearly 6 billion gallons of water.

The Hickory Log Creek dam and reservoir project will bring many benefits to Canton and the thousands of metro area homes and businesses ultimately served by CCMWA. For the City, the reservoir ensures long-term protection of its growing water supply needs, offers a recreational asset to the community, and serves as a back-up water supply during drought periods. The reservoir also helps Canton’s business community and can be viewed as an amenity for those considering locating in Canton. The reservoir will be a regional asset for the northwest metro area as well. Thanks to CCMWA’s commitment to long-term water resources planning, the cities and counties that receive their water from the Authority have access to a sustainable water supply. The project also demonstrates regional cooperation; by teaming together CCMWA and Canton will be able to secure water resources for the many people living in northwest Georgia.