Flint River dam
Flint River
The Flint River, located in Dougherty County, Georgia, is home to a gravity dam constructed in 1921 by the designers MEES & MEES. This public utility dam serves primarily for hydroelectric purposes and stands at a height of 60 feet with a hydraulic height of 30.6 feet. With a storage capacity of 37,000 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 1,400 acres and has a drainage area of 5,310 square miles. The maximum discharge capacity of the Flint River dam is 52,000 cubic feet per second, making it a vital component in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Flint River dam has a controlled spillway width of 464 feet and is equipped with 16 Tainter (radial) outlet gates. The hazard potential of the dam is rated as high, with a very high risk assessment score of 1. While the condition assessment is not currently available, the dam undergoes inspections annually to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its age, the Flint River dam continues to play a crucial role in providing hydroelectric power and regulating water flow in the region.
As climate and water resource enthusiasts, the Flint River dam serves as a fascinating example of early 20th-century engineering and its ongoing impact on the environment. The dam's historical significance, combined with its modern function in hydroelectric power generation and water management, underscores the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in mitigating the effects of climate change. The Flint River dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource utilization, highlighting the complex relationship between water resources, climate, and infrastructure in the 21st century.
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 Flint River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River At Albany | 2,300 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Ga 32 | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Muckalee Creek At Ga 195 | 123 cfs | → |
| Kinchafoonee Creek Near Dawson | 154 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Newton | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek At Ga 37 | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flint River .
Track Flint River 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 Flint River
Where does the data for Flint River 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 Flint River .