Burns Lake Dam dam
Burns Lake Dam
Burns Lake Dam, located in Lilburn, Georgia, was completed in 1965 and serves as a recreational facility along Lucky Shoals Creek. This private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a hydraulic height of 19 feet, providing a storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, the dam has a high hazard potential, making it crucial for the state regulatory agency, the GA-SAFE DAMS PROGRAM, to conduct regular inspections and enforcement measures.
With a spillway type of "Uncontrolled" and uncontrolled outlet gates, Burns Lake Dam has a risk assessment rating of moderate (3). Although the dam's condition is currently not rated, its hazard potential underscores the importance of emergency action preparedness and risk management measures. The dam's oversight falls under the jurisdiction of the state of Georgia, ensuring that safety protocols are in place to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the surrounding community and environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Burns Lake Dam represents a focal point for understanding the intersection of recreational infrastructure, water management, and dam safety in the state.
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 Burns Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N.F. Peachtree Creek At Graves Rd | 0 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Norcross | 2 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Norcross | 1,810 cfs | → |
| N.F. Peachtree Creek | 10 cfs | → |
| S.F. Peachtree Creek | 7 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Above Roswell | 615 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burns Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- West Palisades Vinings
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Sawnee
- James Shackleford County Park
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
Track Burns 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 Burns Lake Dam
Where does the data for Burns 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 High 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 Burns Lake Dam.