Patterson Lake Dam dam
Patterson Lake Dam
Patterson Lake Dam, located in Douglasville, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1962 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 24.8 feet, with a hydraulic height of 21.4 feet and a length of 174 feet. It has a storage capacity of 94.1 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.4 acres, serving the surrounding area with recreational opportunities.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Patterson Lake Dam is categorized as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite not being state regulated, inspected, or permitted, the dam remains in a condition that has not been officially assessed. While the dam has not undergone recent inspections as of the last recorded date in 1985, its risk management measures and emergency action plans remain undisclosed.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Patterson Lake Dam as a recreational structure that contributes to the local landscape and environment. With its unique design and historical significance, the dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of water management, conservation, and leisure activities 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 Patterson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River Near Fairburn | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Below Austell | 53 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Near Austell | 54 cfs | → |
| Utoy Creek At Great Southwest Pkwy Nr Atlanta | 7 cfs | → |
| Snake Creek Near Whitesburg | 10 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Whitesburg | 1,120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Patterson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooch Boat Ramp
- Hutcheson Ferry Road Carroll County
- Us 27 Alternate;16 Whitesburg
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- 1124 Peachtree City
- Pine Crest Drive 127, Peachtree City
Campgrounds
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Mcintosh Reserve Park
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- John Tanner State Park
- Vfw County Park
Fishing spots
Track Patterson 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 Patterson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Patterson 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 Patterson Lake Dam.