Our History

Lake Sinclair’s Construction

The story of Lake Sinclair began in 1929 with Georgia Power’s “Furman Shoals” project. Construction of the Sinclair Dam on the Oconee River paused during the Great Depression but resumed after World War II. The dam was completed in the early 1950s and the 15,330‑acre reservoir was filled by 1953. The dam measures about 3,000 feet long and 104 feet high and can generate up to 45,000 kilowatts of hydroelectric power.

Naming the Lake

Both the dam and the lake are named for Benjamin W. Sinclair, a long‑time Georgia Power engineer and manager of production.

Formation of the Authority

Baldwin and Putnam counties formed the Sinclair Water Authority in 2001, later joined by the City of Eatonton. A modern membrane‑filtration plant was constructed between 2007 and 2008 and dedicated on September 25, 2008. The plant treats up to 6 million gallons of water daily using ultrafiltration membranes.