Cheatam Lake Dam dam
Cheatam Lake Dam
Cheatam Lake Dam, located in Griffin, Georgia, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. This earthen dam, with a height of 24 feet and a length of 630 feet, has a storage capacity of 181 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 92 square miles. While the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential, it is rated as having a moderate risk level (3) based on a risk assessment.
Despite being a private structure, Cheatam Lake Dam falls under state jurisdiction and is subject to periodic inspections. The last recorded inspection took place in October 2012, with a frequency of every five years. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, providing essential safety features. While the condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated," the dam's risk management measures and emergency preparedness are not specifically outlined.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cheatam Lake Dam presents an interesting case study in recreational dam infrastructure. Its location in Spalding County, Georgia, within the Savannah District, offers both a serene setting for outdoor activities and a potential focal point for discussions on dam safety and risk management. With its moderate risk level and low hazard potential, monitoring the condition and maintenance of Cheatam Lake Dam is crucial to ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and preserving the recreational opportunities it provides.
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 Cheatam Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek At Shoal Creek Rd | 9 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Griffin | 60 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 25 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 16 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 10 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cheatam Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- Pine Crest Drive 127, Peachtree City
- 1124 Peachtree City
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- East Bagwell Road Pike County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Padgett Lake
- Clayton County International Park
- Jester Creek
- High Falls Lake
- Indian Springs State Park Lake
Track Cheatam 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 Cheatam Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cheatam 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 Cheatam Lake Dam.