Salem Lake Dam dam
Salem Lake Dam
Salem Lake Dam, located in Rockdale, Georgia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation. Built in 1970, this earthen dam stands at a height of 33 feet and has a storage capacity of 312 acre-feet. With a spillway type classified as "uncontrolled" and an outlet gate system also uncontrolled, the dam presents a low hazard potential and has not been rated in terms of its condition assessment.
Despite its low hazard potential, Salem Lake Dam is subject to state jurisdiction and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one being conducted in September 2018. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, although specific risk management measures are not detailed in the data. The dam does not fall under the oversight of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and its associated structures are listed as none, signifying a standalone feature within the recreational landscape of the Pace Community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Salem Lake Dam offers an intriguing case study in private dam ownership and its role in providing recreational opportunities while also managing potential risks associated with its operation. The dam's design, construction, and maintenance details, along with its location and purpose, make it a noteworthy site for further exploration and study in the realm of water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Salem Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 8 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Gees Mill Road | 96 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Bald Rock Road | 17 cfs | → |
| South River At Klondike Road | 108 cfs | → |
| Little Haynes Creek At Dial Mill Rd Nr Milstead Ga | 9 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Jack Turner Dam | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salem Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Ellis Road Jasper County
- Ccc Camp Loop Morgan County
- Wise Creek Tail Jasper County
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
Campgrounds
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Hard Labor Creek State Park
- Camp Rutledge
- Indian Springs State Park
Fishing spots
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Black Shoals Lake
- Parkers Lake
- Chapel Hill Park
- Lake To-Lani
- Jackson Lake
Track Salem 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 Salem Lake Dam
Where does the data for Salem 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 Salem Lake Dam.