Culp Lake Dam dam
Culp Lake Dam
Culp Lake Dam, located in Cedartown, Georgia, is a privately-owned earth dam on Pumpkin Pile Creek primarily used for recreation. Built in 1951 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam stands at 34.4 feet high with a storage capacity of 544 acre-feet. With a surface area of 26.6 acres and a normal storage of 327 acre-feet, Culp Lake Dam provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential and having a moderate risk assessment rating, Culp Lake Dam has not been state regulated or permitted. While the dam has undergone inspections as recently as January 2019, its condition assessment remains unrated. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated structures or locks. The surrounding area, including Polk County, Georgia, benefits from the recreational opportunities provided by Culp Lake Dam, making it a valuable resource for both locals and visitors alike.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Culp Lake Dam serves as an interesting case study for understanding the management and maintenance of privately-owned dams for recreational purposes. With its unique design features and historical significance, this dam offers insights into the intersection of human intervention with natural water systems and the importance of monitoring and assessing the safety of such structures. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the ongoing evaluation and regulation of dams like Culp Lake Dam will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of these recreational assets.
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 Culp Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek At Ga Ave At Cedartown | 5 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Cedartown | 90 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Below Tallapoosa | 133 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 492 cfs | → |
| Coosa River Near Rome | 8,590 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Heflin | 248 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Culp Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Coleman Boat Ramp Road Cleburne County
- Cherokee County 556, Centre
- Heritage Trail Rome
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
- Highway 68, Cedar Bluff
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
Campgrounds
- Chief Ladiga Trail Campground
- Trailcampground Silver Comet
- Vfw County Park
- Tally Valley County Park
- Coleman Lake Rec Area
- Coleman Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
Track Culp 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 Culp Lake Dam
Where does the data for Culp 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 Culp Lake Dam.