Hartwell Dam dam
Hartwell Dam
Hartwell Dam, located on the Savannah River in Georgia, serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, flood risk reduction, and water supply. Built in 1962 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam stands at 155 feet high and has a total length of 17,852 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 3,438,700 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 55,950 acres. The dam's spillway gates have only been opened four times due to flooding, and the risk assessment for the project characterizes its risk as low, though there is still a potential for dangerous flood waters during extreme storm events.
USACE has implemented various risk management measures to prepare for emergency incidents and ensure the safety and integrity of Hartwell Dam. This includes regularly updating the Emergency Action Plan, conducting emergency exercises with local response teams, and performing regular inspections and maintenance on the dam structure. USACE works closely with local authorities, such as Augusta-Richmond County, during flood events to coordinate spillway releases from downstream dams like Thurmond Dam, which aids in mitigating flooding for downstream populations. Despite a slight chance of high lake levels resulting in embankment breaches, USACE's proactive approach and collaboration with local stakeholders demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the safety and resilience of Hartwell Dam in the face of potential risks.
Overall, Hartwell Dam plays a critical role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks along the Savannah River. With a focus on proactive risk management and collaboration with local partners, USACE is dedicated to maintaining the safety and functionality of the dam to protect downstream communities and ensure the sustainable use of water resources in the region.
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 Hartwell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Elberton Ga | 26 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Starr | 36 cfs | → |
| Broad River Above Carlton | 365 cfs | → |
| South Fork Broad River At Carlton | 87 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 432 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hartwell Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Hart County
- Old Us Hwy 29 Anderson County
- Sunset Lane Anderson County
- Double Springs Road Anderson County
- Hatton Ford Access Anderson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Lake Hartwell
- Richard B Russell Lake
- Reservoir Number One
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Cedar Creek To 1/4 Mile Below The Nf Boundary And Fh 110, Cobbs Bridge Road
- South Of Cedar Creek Rifle Range To Confluence With Chauga River
- 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp To Confluence Of Cedar Creek
- Confluence Of Brasstown Creek And Little Brasstown Creek Just South Of Brasstown Falls Road (Fs 751) To Confluence Of Mill Branch, Brasstown Creek And Boatwright Creek Near Boatwright Road (Fs 753)
- Crpssing Of Land Bridge Road, Sc 196 To 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
Track Hartwell 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 Hartwell Dam
Where does the data for Hartwell 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 Hartwell Dam.