Ward Lake Dam dam
Ward Lake Dam
Ward Lake Dam, located in DeKalb, Georgia, was completed in 1950 by the local government under the design of DEKALB CO. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, primarily serving for recreational purposes. With a storage capacity of 187 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 99 acre-feet, Ward Lake Dam covers a surface area of 18 acres and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Ward Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in May 2005, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 5 years. The dam is not state-regulated but is under state jurisdiction, with ongoing state inspections in place. The risk management measures, emergency action plan, and inundation maps for the dam are not currently available, indicating potential areas for improvement in the future.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Ward Lake Dam to be an intriguing structure with a rich history in the DeKalb community. While the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, its risk assessment and condition evaluation raise important considerations for future monitoring and maintenance. With a location in SNAPFINGER and under the ownership of the local government, Ward Lake Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human engineering with the natural environment, highlighting the ongoing importance of responsible dam management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Ward Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 38 cfs | → |
| Intrenchment Creek Near Atlanta | 4 cfs | → |
| South River At Forest Park Road | 13 cfs | → |
| South River At Klondike Road | 111 cfs | → |
| S.F. Peachtree Creek | 7 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ward Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- West Palisades Vinings
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- Hooch Boat Ramp
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Chapel Hill Park
- Buena Vista Lake
- Avondale Lake
- Lake To-Lani
- Clayton County International Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
Track Ward 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 Ward Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ward 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 Ward Lake Dam.