Alpha Iii Lake Dam dam
Alpha Iii Lake Dam
Alpha III Lake Dam, located in Talmo, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1973 primarily for recreation purposes. The dam stands at 32 feet high with a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a length of 400 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 31 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to have a moderate risk assessment rating.
Despite being privately owned, the dam is subject to state jurisdiction and inspection, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks. The last inspection was conducted in October 2009, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it is considered to meet guidelines for emergency action plans and risk management measures. Overall, Alpha III Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and safety of small-scale recreational dams.
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 Alpha Iii Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeler Creek At Bill Cheek Road | 1 cfs | → |
| Middle Oconee River Near Arcade | 135 cfs | → |
| Apalachee River At Fence Road | 1 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Cornelia | 297 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River Near Lawrenceville | 8 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek At Suwanee Dam Road | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alpha Iii Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hall County
- Van Pugh North Park
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
- Browns Bridge Road Forsyth County
- Morrison Moore Parkway East Dahlonega
- Mountain Shadows Drive White County
Campgrounds
- Laurel Park - Lake Lanier
- River Forks - Lake Lanier
- Duckett Mill - Lake Lanier
- Old Federal - Lake Lanier
- Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
- Bolding Mill - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Confluence Of Brasstown Creek And Little Brasstown Creek Just South Of Brasstown Falls Road (Fs 751) To Confluence Of Mill Branch, Brasstown Creek And Boatwright Creek Near Boatwright Road (Fs 753)
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Confluence Of Cedar Creek To 1/4 Mile Below The Nf Boundary And Fh 110, Cobbs Bridge Road
Track Alpha Iii 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 Alpha Iii Lake Dam
Where does the data for Alpha Iii 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 Alpha Iii Lake Dam.