Spence Millpond Dam dam
Spence Millpond Dam
Spence Millpond Dam, located in Pelham, Georgia, serves multiple purposes including fire protection and as a stock or small fish pond. Built in 1900, this earth dam stands at a height of 7.2 feet with a hydraulic height of 9.4 feet, providing a storage capacity of 194 acre-feet. The dam spans 470 feet in length and is situated on Spence Mill Creek in Grady County.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has an uncontrolled outlet gate. Despite its age, the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating. The last inspection was conducted in November 2016, with an inspection frequency of every five years. The condition assessment is marked as "Not Rated," indicating the need for further evaluation to determine the dam's structural integrity and maintenance requirements.
Given its historical significance and role in providing essential services such as fire protection and water storage, the Spence Millpond Dam warrants continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the rich history and engineering behind this dam, as well as the ongoing efforts to manage its risk and safeguard the surrounding community from potential hazards.
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 Spence Millpond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ochlockonee River Near Thomasville | 574 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Riverview Plantation Nr Hopeful | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Newton | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Below Newton | 495 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Near Elmodel | 431 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Bainbridge | 3,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spence Millpond Dam.
Boat launches
- Gainous Road Boat Ramp
- Cedar Springs Road Grady County
- State Park Road Grady County
- Highway 93, Cairo
- Boat Landing Road Mitchell County
- Hadley Ferry Road 154, Cairo
Track Spence Millpond 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 Spence Millpond Dam
Where does the data for Spence Millpond 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 Spence Millpond Dam.