Joy Lake Dam dam
Joy Lake Dam
Joy Lake Dam, located in Houston, Georgia, was completed in 1956 and stands at a height of 11 feet, with a length of 855 feet. This earth dam, primarily designed for recreation purposes, holds a storage capacity of 727 acre-feet and spans a surface area of 112 acres along Mossy Creek. Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated and inspected by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with environmental standards.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Joy Lake Dam poses minimal danger to surrounding communities. Although its condition is currently not rated, regular inspections take place every five years to monitor its structural integrity and safety measures. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates contribute to its overall risk management strategy, while its buttress core design further enhances its stability and resilience to potential flooding events.
As a key feature in the Houston Lake environs, Joy Lake Dam offers recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors alike. Its historical significance and ecological impact on the surrounding area make it an important resource for water enthusiasts and climate advocates. With its picturesque setting and tranquil waters, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and environmental conservation in the face of changing climate patterns.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Joy Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocmulgee River At Hawkinsville | 2,950 cfs | → |
| Tobesofkee Creek Near Macon | 8 cfs | → |
| Tucsawhatchee Creek Near Hawkinsville | 24 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Macon | 852 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek At Byromville | 7 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Ga 26 | 2,210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Joy Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Haven Way 498, Perry
- General Courtney Hodges Boulevard 2337-2355, Perry
- Highway 96, Bonaire
- Pulaski County
- County Road Hawkinsville
- Macon
Campgrounds
- Warner Robins Afb Military
- Arrowhead County Park
- Claystone County Park
- Central City Park - State Fairgrounds
- Whitewater Creek County Park
Fishing spots
- Houston Lake
- Dodge County Public Fishing Area
- Lake Tobesofkee
- Mccant's Mill Pond
- Miller Creek Lake Recreation Area
- Fuller Lake
Track Joy Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Joy Lake Dam
Where does the data for Joy Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Joy Lake Dam.