Brown Lake Dam dam
Brown Lake Dam
Brown Lake Dam, located in the picturesque Granite Hill Environs of Oglethorpe, Georgia, is a private Earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 14 feet and spanning a length of 540 feet, this dam was completed in 1950 and boasts a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 160 acre-feet and a surface area of 32 acres, Brown Lake Dam plays a vital role in the local community's water resource management.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Brown Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition. The last inspection in 2001 revealed that the dam was in satisfactory condition, but without a recent assessment, its safety remains somewhat uncertain. Additionally, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not clearly defined, leaving room for improvement in ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding area in case of a potential breach.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Brown Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in the intersection of recreational infrastructure and water management. As efforts continue to enhance the dam's safety features and risk assessment protocols, it serves as a reminder of the critical role that such structures play in maintaining a balance between human recreation 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 Brown Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Broad River At Carlton | 87 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 432 cfs | → |
| Broad River Above Carlton | 365 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Elberton Ga | 26 cfs | → |
| Kettle Creek Near Washington | 2 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Washington | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brown Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Middleton Church Road 1276, Elberton
- Middleton Church Road Middleton
- Pearl Mill Road 1437, Elberton
- County Road 381, Elberton
- Dry Fork Landing Drive 1387, Elberton
- Olympic Rowing Drive 2790, Elberton
Campgrounds
- Pioneer 2
- Pioneer 3
- Pioneer 1
- Broad River - Strom Thurmond Lake
- River's Edge Campground
- Richard B. Russell State Park
Fishing spots
- Richard B Russell Lake
- Ah Stephens State Park
- Chapman Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Cliatt Creek
Paddle runs
- Turkey Creek And Sc Highway 35 To Confluence With Stevens Creek
- Steven's Creek Crossing Sc Highway 21 To Steven's Creek Crossing Sc Highway 88
- Nf Boundary To Glenwood Springs/Lake Sinclair
- Confluence Of Cedar Creek To 1/4 Mile Below The Nf Boundary And Fh 110, Cobbs Bridge Road
Track Brown 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 Brown Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brown 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 Brown Lake Dam.