Krystal Lake Dam dam
Krystal Lake Dam
Krystal Lake Dam, located in Chickamauga, Georgia, was completed in 1961 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam has an earth primary structure with a buttress core type, standing at a height of 11.2 feet with a hydraulic height of 11.4 feet. The dam's storage capacity is 187 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 119.7 acre-feet and a surface area of 26.6 acres.
Managed by a private owner, Krystal Lake Dam is not regulated by the state but undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates add to its unique design, providing an interesting case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in dam infrastructure and management practices.
Despite its relatively small size, Krystal Lake Dam offers a valuable example of how private ownership and recreational purposes can intersect with water resource management. The dam's location in Walker County, Georgia, under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District, highlights the importance of collaboration between various agencies and stakeholders in maintaining the safety and functionality of critical infrastructure like dams in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Krystal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 66 cfs | → |
| South Chickamauga Creek Near Chickamauga | 146 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Dalton | 20 cfs | → |
| North Chickamauga Cr At Mile Straight | 2 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River At Tilton | 222 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River Near Eton | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Krystal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- I 75 Ringgold
- Cummings Highway Chattanooga
- Tennessee Riverwalk Chattanooga
- Market Street Chattanooga
- U.S. 41 18039, Chattanooga
- Hamilton County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
Track Krystal 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 Krystal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Krystal 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 Krystal Lake Dam.