Lake Petit Dam

Hurricane Helene wrecked real lives—homes, farms, and paychecks. A year later, folks across Georgia are still rebuilding while churches and volunteers fill the gaps. Inside the gate at Big Canoe, we chose clubhouses and golf before fixing our dam—and now the POA wants FEMA–GEMA to pick up the tab. That’s not aid; it’s a bailout for entitled elites, paid by people who can’t even use the place.

The POA promised to alert the community before the final test of the LLO. So far they haven’t. In this article we’ll give you the latest date … + give an overview of the test, + share some concerns.

Originally the LLO Project was supposed to be done back in 2023. We spent a ton of money on that FAILED project. Now it has been delayed – AGAIN, and Engineer Scott still hasn’t offered the community timelines. Well, FOBC now has them….

On April 3, 2025 Geosyntec communicated in an email to GA Safe Dams that the following are the planned test dates for the LLO Gate Tests:

FOBC received a headsup a few days ago about a large “slide” on the downstream face of Lake Petit Dam (down by the ballfield).  It is in the area that the large “gravel patch” was.  First a little history, then some analysis & commentary.

“There is still a very real “Non-Zero” chance that this LLO Project during March and April 2025 ends in catastrophic failure of Lake Petit Dam….”

After years of extravagant spending on Golf Courses and Luxury Clubhouse upgrades.. the Big Canoe POA has no money left to meet it’s legal and regulatory requirements to fix Lake Petit Dam. Big Canoe POA is looking to the Public Taxpayer to bail them out now. Maybe we need D.O.G.E. in Big Canoe to find out where all the money went!

FOBC hasn’t done a Petit Dam Update in quite a while.  I just got back my most recent Open Records Request, and I just couldn’t ignore what I am sitting on.

This is a 3 part public report, that will be copied to Ga Safe Dams and other Public Officials. It submits video evidence of a potentially compromised LLO Pipe; updates on the status of the Stability Review; and outlines the Monies spent so far since 2020 on “Stalling Tactic” maintenance repairs – that will all most likely end up as wasted and unecessary funds if either of two likely scenarios materializes.