Hobby Lake Dam dam
Hobby Lake Dam
Hobby Lake Dam, located in Ashburn, Georgia, was completed in 1957 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This earth dam, with a height of 18 feet and a hydraulic height of 34.5 feet, provides a storage capacity of 458 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 23 acres. Despite being privately owned and not state regulated, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Hobby Lake Dam plays a crucial role in the local community's water resource management. While its spillway is uncontrolled and outlet gates are also uncontrolled, the dam has not been modified in recent years and its condition remains unrated. The surrounding area, including Turner County, benefits from the dam's water storage capacity and contributes to the region's climate resilience and sustainability efforts.
As a key feature in the water infrastructure of Turner County, Hobby Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of private ownership in maintaining critical water resources. Its strategic location and multi-purpose design make it a valuable asset for fire protection, stock management, and small fish pond operations. The dam's risk assessment and inspection frequency ensure the safety and functionality of the structure, highlighting the ongoing commitment to water resource management and climate adaptation 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 Hobby Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little R At Tifton Worth Co Line Rd | 13 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Ga 32 | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Muckalee Creek At Ga 195 | 123 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Albany | 2,300 cfs | → |
| Tucsawhatchee Creek Near Hawkinsville | 16 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek At Byromville | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hobby Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Ga 300 Crisp County
- Power Dam Lane Worth County
- Ferry Landing Road Crisp County
- Halfmoon Road 471, Abbeville
- Hopewell Church Road Dodge County
- Dodge Lake Road;Dodges Lake Lane Telfair County
Campgrounds
Track Hobby 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 Hobby Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hobby 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 Hobby Lake Dam.