Jim Woodruff Dam, Hydroelectric dam in Jackson County, Florida
The Jim Woodruff Dam is a hydroelectric structure that crosses the Apalachicola River and features gravity dam engineering with controlled spillway sections. The facility combines power generation with a navigation lock that allows vessels to move between different water levels created by the reservoir.
Construction began in 1947 under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the facility became operational in 1957. The project emerged from efforts to harness the Apalachicola River for power generation and water management across the region.
The dam takes its name from James W. Woodruff Sr., a Georgia businessman whose vision shaped the development of the broader Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint water system. This naming reflects the economic interests that drove the creation of such large infrastructure projects in the region.
The dam is accessible by road and offers viewing areas to observe the reservoir and lock operations. Visitors can explore the surrounding area, though it is helpful to check access conditions beforehand since some sections may have limited availability.
The structure includes a navigation lock that enables boats to traverse the different water levels created by the dam. This engineering solution allowed the facility to serve both shipping traffic and hydroelectric power production simultaneously.
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