Ridley Lake Dam dam
Ridley Lake Dam
Ridley Lake Dam in Whitfield, Georgia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. Completed in 1972, this earth dam stands at a height of 17.7 feet, with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, and a length of 50 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 310 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 97.5 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 19.5 acres.
While Ridley Lake Dam is categorized as having a low hazard potential, it is subject to periodic inspections, with the last one conducted in January 2018. The dam's risk assessment is deemed moderate, with an assigned DSAC rating of 3. Despite not being regulated by the state, the structure is under state jurisdiction and has been inspected for safety measures. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, serving as a recreational site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to admire the surrounding beauty of the area.
Overall, Ridley Lake Dam is a well-maintained earth structure that offers recreational opportunities in a picturesque setting. With its moderate risk assessment and low hazard potential, the dam continues to provide visitors with a safe and enjoyable experience, showcasing the harmonious blend of nature and water resource management 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 Ridley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conasauga River Near Eton | 119 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 4 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Dalton | 20 cfs | → |
| Holly Creek Near Chatsworth | 21 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River At Tilton | 222 cfs | → |
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 146 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ridley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Conasauga Murray County
- I 75 Ringgold
- Sugar Loaf Drive Polk County
- Dentville Road 266-362, Benton
- Turkey Foot Road, Chattanooga
Campgrounds
- Hickey Gap Campground
- Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area
- Lake Conasauga
- Lake Conasauga Campground
- Lake Conasauga Overflow
- Lake Conasauga Overflow Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Ridley 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 Ridley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ridley 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 Ridley Lake Dam.