Matthews Lake Dam dam
Matthews Lake Dam
Matthews Lake Dam in Paynes Mill Environs, Georgia, is a privately owned structure built in 1957 by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 580 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 650 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Red River, within the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and has not been rated for its condition or inspected in recent years.
Although the dam's hazard potential is listed as undetermined, with a moderate risk assessment rating, there is no emergency action plan in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks. Despite its age, the dam's condition remains unassessed, and there is limited information available on its risk management measures or emergency preparedness. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Matthews Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in the need for continued monitoring and maintenance of aging infrastructure to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
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 Matthews Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Culloden | 628 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek At Shoal Creek Rd | 9 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Griffin | 60 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 16 cfs | → |
| Tobesofkee Creek Near Macon | 6 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Matthews Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Talbot County
- East Bagwell Road Pike County
- Highway 128 5374-5376, Roberta
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
Campgrounds
- Old Sawmill Campsite
- Bumblebee Ridge Campsite
- High Falls State Park
- Sassafras Hill Campsite
- Arrowhead County Park
- F.D. Roosevelt State Park
Fishing spots
- Mccant's Mill Pond
- High Falls Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Lake Tobesofkee
- Indian Springs State Park Lake
- Padgett Lake
Track Matthews 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 Matthews Lake Dam
Where does the data for Matthews 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 Undetermined 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 Matthews Lake Dam.