Chelton Lake Dam dam
Chelton Lake Dam
Chelton Lake Dam, also known as Kennerly's Wash Hole, is a private dam located in Gwinnett, Georgia, and completed in 1957 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection and creating a stock or small fish pond. It is an earth dam with a buttress core type and stands at a height of 24 feet, with a structural height of 20 feet and a length of 350 feet.
With a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet, Chelton Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is rated as having a moderate risk level. It features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with the last inspection conducted in June 2016. Despite not being state regulated, the dam undergoes regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its safety and integrity.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Chelton Lake Dam an intriguing structure due to its unique design and multiple purposes. Located in a picturesque area in McElroys Mill, Georgia, the dam provides essential services while maintaining a low hazard potential. Its history, design, and risk assessment make it a noteworthy site for those interested in water resource management and climate-related infrastructure.
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 Chelton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Haynes Creek At Lenora Road | 9 cfs | → |
| Brushy Fork Creek At Beaver Road | 3 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River At New Hope Road | 17 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River Near Lawrenceville | 8 cfs | → |
| No Business Creek At Lee Road | 2 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ga 124 | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chelton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Van Pugh North Park
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- James Shackleford County Park
- Fort Yargo State Park
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
- Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
- Rhodes Jordan Park
- Collins Hill Park
- Parkers Lake
- Black Shoals Lake
- Lake To-Lani
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
Track Chelton 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 Chelton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Chelton 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 Chelton Lake Dam.