Cook Lake Dam dam
Cook Lake Dam
Cook Lake Dam, located in Irwin, Georgia, was completed in 1967 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam, with a height of 15.4 feet and a length of 960 feet, has a storage capacity of 204.8 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 23 acres. It is classified as an Earth dam with a Buttress core type and an uncontrolled spillway.
Despite being privately owned, Cook Lake Dam falls under state jurisdiction and is subject to regular inspections. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, highlighting the importance of proper risk management measures. The last inspection was conducted in 2009, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the strategic location of Cook Lake Dam in the Bethlehem Church Environs, as it plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural irrigation in the area. The dam's design by the Natural Resources Conservation Service ensures efficient water storage and distribution, contributing to sustainable water management practices. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Cook Lake Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource conservation and climate resilience 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 Cook Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Alapaha River Near Alapaha | 67 cfs | → |
| Little R At Tifton Worth Co Line Rd | 12 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Adel | 392 cfs | → |
| Turnpike Creek Near Mcrae | · | → |
| Withlacoochee River At Mcmillan Rd | 219 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Lumber City | 2,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cook Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Cook 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 Cook Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cook 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 Cook Lake Dam.