LAKE SEMINOLE BUSINESSES

Lake Seminole is a reservoir located in the southwest corner of Georgia along its border with Florida. The Chattahoochee and Flint rivers join in the lake, before flowing from the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, which impounds the lake, as the Apalachicola River. Alligators, snakes and various waterfowl are present in Lake Seminole.

The Federal Government has been improving navigation along the Apalachicola River since the early 1800's. Between 1828 and 1831, the Corps of Engineers removed obstructions from the river to provide for shallow draft vessel traffic. In 1874, the project was modified to provide for improvement of the Apalachicola River to secure a channel 6 feet deep at low water and 100 feet wide throughout its length. Passage of the 1945 River and Harbors Act authorized a 9 by 100 foot channel to be constructed on the Apalachicola River, the Chattahoochee River segment to Columbus, Georgia and the Flint River segment to Bainbridge, Georgia.

In 1953, a resolution was adopted by the House Committee on Public Works for the development of the ACF River Basin. The Walter F. George,George W. Andrews and Woodruff Lock and Dam - Lake Seminole projects were authorized for navigation, power generation and stream flow regulation. Recreational facilities at the lakes were authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944. The lakes have been operational since 1963.

Jim Woodruff Dam was the initial project of the authorized plan for improvement of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

The Jim Woodruff Dam is located on the Apalachicola River about 1000 feet below the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers which unite to form the Apalachicola River, and is at the Georgia - Florida State line. It is approximately 3200 feet up stream from the U.S. Highway 90 Bridge over the Apalachicola River and is visible from the bridge. The dam is accessible by road and is located approximately 1 mile northwest of Chattahoochee, Florida.