Elder Lake Dam dam
Elder Lake Dam
Elder Lake Dam, located in Carl, Georgia, was completed in 1947 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, designed by J.D. White, is an earth dam with a height of 21 feet and a length of 444 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 230 acre-feet. The dam is owned privately and is not regulated by the state, with inspections conducted every five years to assess its condition.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Elder Lake Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no specific emergency action plan or inundation maps prepared. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 140 square miles, making it crucial to monitor the dam's integrity and risk factors, especially in the face of potential climate-related challenges such as increased precipitation or extreme weather events.
With its picturesque location in Barrow County, Georgia, Elder Lake Dam provides a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy recreational activities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to stay informed about the dam's condition and risk assessment to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource in the region.
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 Elder Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Apalachee River At Fence Road | 1 cfs | → |
| Wheeler Creek At Bill Cheek Road | 1 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River At New Hope Road | 18 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River Near Lawrenceville | 8 cfs | → |
| Middle Oconee River Near Arcade | 135 cfs | → |
| Brushy Fork Creek At Beaver Road | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elder Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Van Pugh North Park
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Browns Bridge Road Forsyth County
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
Campgrounds
- James Shackleford County Park
- Fort Yargo State Park
- Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
- Old Federal - Lake Lanier
- Shady Grove - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lloyd Shoals Dam On Lake Jackson To Georgia State Highway 16
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Georgia State Highway 16 To East Juliette Dam
- 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)
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
Track Elder 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 Elder Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elder 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 Elder Lake Dam.