Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam dam
Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam
Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam in Armuchee, Georgia, is a state-owned structure built in 1950 with a primary purpose that remains unspecified. The dam, made of earth with a buttress core, stands at a height of 10.8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 13 feet. It spans 633 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 72 acre-feet.
Situated on Love Joy Creek in Floyd County, the dam is regulated by the state of Georgia with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Although it has not been inspected since 1984 and is not currently monitored or enforced by the state, its condition remains unrated. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, highlighting its historical engineering design.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would appreciate the historical significance and modest scale of Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam, as well as its potential risk factors and lack of recent oversight. Its location within the Nashville District and its association with representative Tom Graves add an intriguing political dimension to this lesser-known Georgia landmark.
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 Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Heath Creek Near Armuchee | 3 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula River Near Rome | 773 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River At Summerville | 119 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 1 Loop | 598 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula River At Resaca | 578 cfs | → |
| Coosa River Near Rome | 1,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Floyd County
- Heritage Trail Rome
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
- Dekalb County
- Park Drive Northeast Gordon County
Campgrounds
- The Pocket Recreation Area
- James H Sloppy Floyd State Park
- James H. Floyd State Park Campground
- Coosa River County Park
- Salacoa Creek Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
Track Upper Arrowhead 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 Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Arrowhead 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 Upper Arrowhead Lake Dam.