Lake Toccoa Dam dam
Lake Toccoa Dam
Lake Toccoa Dam, also known as Toccoa Boy Scout Camp Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Rabun, Georgia. Built in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans a length of 350 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering opportunities for outdoor activities in a picturesque setting.
Managed by the Georgia-SAFE DAMS PROGRAM, Lake Toccoa Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam has not had an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared as of the latest data update in April 2021.
Situated on SHE CREEK, this dam is a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure, providing not only recreational benefits but also contributing to the overall water management of the area. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Lake Toccoa Dam an interesting subject of study, given its design features, state oversight, and risk management considerations.
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 Lake Toccoa Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 219 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 66 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 152 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Toccoa Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Rabun Road Rabun County
- Stephens County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- High Falls Road Oconee County
- Mullins Ford Landing Road 205, Westminster
Campgrounds
- Black Rock Mountain State Park
- Sarahs Creek
- Sarah's Creek Campground
- Long Bottom Ford
- Tallulah Gorge State Park
- Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
- Crpssing Of Land Bridge Road, Sc 196 To 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- South Of Cedar Creek Rifle Range To Confluence With Chauga River
- 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp To Confluence Of Cedar Creek
Track Lake Toccoa 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 Lake Toccoa Dam
Where does the data for Lake Toccoa 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 High 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 Lake Toccoa Dam.