Sunnyside Lake Dam dam
Sunnyside Lake Dam
Sunnyside Lake Dam, located in Thomaston, Georgia, was completed in 1952 and serves as a recreational water resource for the local community. This privately owned earth dam stands at a height of 32.9 feet and has a storage capacity of 225.5 acre-feet, with a surface area of 12 acres. The dam is regulated by the Georgia Safe Dams Program and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2013, Sunnyside Lake Dam poses moderate risk according to a recent assessment. While the dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, its risk management measures and emergency action plan status remain unclear. The dam's association with the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers is marked as non-existent, suggesting that its maintenance and oversight fall solely on the private owner.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the Upson County area can appreciate the historical significance and recreational value of Sunnyside Lake Dam. The dam's role in providing a scenic and enjoyable environment for outdoor activities, coupled with the ongoing regulatory processes to ensure public safety, highlights the intersection of human intervention and natural systems in managing water resources. As interest grows in sustainable practices and climate resilience, the stewardship of dams like Sunnyside Lake becomes a focal point for balancing recreation with safety and environmental considerations.
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 Sunnyside Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Culloden | 465 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Griffin | 67 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek At Shoal Creek Rd | 8 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 15 cfs | → |
| Tobesofkee Creek Near Macon | 6 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunnyside Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Talbot County
- East Bagwell Road Pike County
- Highway 128 5374-5376, Roberta
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Mccant's Mill Pond
- Callaway Gardens Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
- High Falls Lake
- Lake Tobesofkee
- Padgett Lake
Track Sunnyside 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 Sunnyside Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sunnyside 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 Sunnyside Lake Dam.