Pinley Lake Dam dam
Pinley Lake Dam
Pinley Lake Dam, also known as Sandy Lake Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Fayetteville, Georgia. Built in 1970 by designer Raymond Pitts, this earth dam stands at a height of 20.9 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 692 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 420 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and is situated on Sandy Creek, within the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Pinley Lake Dam has not been state-regulated but undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2015. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated structures or federal agency involvement. Despite its unlisted foundations and condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam remains a key feature in the local area, providing a surface area of 56 acres for recreational activities and contributing to the overall water resource management in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Pinley Lake Dam to be an intriguing site to explore and study in the context of dam engineering and environmental impact.
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 Pinley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 42 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 26 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Fairburn | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 6 cfs | → |
| South River At Forest Park Road | 15 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Below Austell | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pinley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- 1124 Peachtree City
- Pine Crest Drive 127, Peachtree City
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- Hooch Boat Ramp
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Padgett Lake
- Jester Creek
- Clayton County International Park
- Griffin City Reservoir
- George H Sparks Reservoir
- Lake Starling
Track Pinley 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 Pinley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pinley 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 Pinley Lake Dam.