Kemp Lake Dam dam
Kemp Lake Dam
Kemp Lake Dam in Jonesboro, Georgia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation. This earth dam, with a height of 22.2 feet and a hydraulic height of 17.8 feet, holds a normal storage capacity of 59 acre-feet and a total storage of 140 acre-feet. The dam, completed in an unknown year, spans 283 feet in length and overlooks a surface area of 9 acres, with a drainage area of 313 square miles.
Despite being unregulated and uninspected by state agencies, Kemp Lake Dam poses a moderate risk, with an undetermined hazard potential. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no designated emergency action plan in place. The last inspection took place in November 1993, with the structure currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While the risk management measures and inundation maps remain unclear, the dam's risk assessment suggests a level 3 risk.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kemp Lake Dam provides a fascinating case study of a privately owned recreational structure with potential safety concerns. The dam's location in Clayton County, Georgia, alongside a nameless river or stream, highlights the importance of monitoring and assessing the condition of such structures for both public safety and environmental conservation. Further research and oversight may be necessary to ensure the long-term stability and resilience of Kemp Lake Dam in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water resource demands.
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 Kemp Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 114 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 30 cfs | → |
| South River At Forest Park Road | 18 cfs | → |
| Intrenchment Creek Near Atlanta | 4 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 127 cfs | → |
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 64 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kemp Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- 1124 Peachtree City
- Pine Crest Drive 127, Peachtree City
Campgrounds
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- High Falls State Park
- Indian Springs State Park
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Clayton County International Park
- Jester Creek
- Padgett Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Chapel Hill Park
- Buena Vista Lake
Track Kemp 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 Kemp Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kemp 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 Undetermined 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 Kemp Lake Dam.