Richard B. Russell Dam dam
Richard B. Russell Dam
Richard B. Russell Dam, located in Elberton, Georgia, is a federal hydroelectric structure on the Savannah River that serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply. Completed in 1986, the concrete dam stands at 136 feet high and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,488,166 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in mitigating downstream flooding by controlling water releases through its spillway gates, which transfer excess water to the J. Strom Thurmond Lake. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has a well-maintained emergency action plan and risk management measures in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding areas, including the city of Augusta, Georgia.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and risk assessment of Richard B. Russell Dam, which includes regular inspections, emergency exercises, and coordination with local emergency managers. The risk assessment conducted in 2017 characterized the dam's risk as very low but acknowledged the potential for rare, extreme storm events that may require opening the spillway gates to prevent overtopping. While the dam has never experienced flooding events that necessitated opening the spillway gates, USACE remains vigilant in monitoring the dam's performance and conducting necessary repairs to ensure its structural integrity.
Overall, Richard B. Russell Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. With a comprehensive emergency action plan, ongoing risk management measures, and close collaboration with local authorities, the dam continues to uphold its purpose of safeguarding downstream communities from the impacts of extreme weather events and potential dam failures.
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 Richard B. Russell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 42 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 422 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Elberton Ga | 25 cfs | → |
| Broad River Above Carlton | 343 cfs | → |
| South Fork Broad River At Carlton | 87 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Starr | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richard B. Russell Dam.
Boat launches
- Manor Ramp Road, Calhoun Falls
- Russell Pointe Drive 3845, Elberton
- State Road S-33-168, Mount Carmel
- Millwood Ramp, Calhoun Falls
- County Road 381, Elberton
- Blue Hole Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Bobby Brown State Park
- Broad River - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Mount Carmel - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Calhoun Falls State Rec Area
- Hesters Ferry - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Leroys Ferry - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
- Richard B Russell Lake
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Cherokee Creek
- Cliatt Creek
- Lightwood Log Creek
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
Track Richard B. Russell 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 Richard B. Russell Dam
Where does the data for Richard B. Russell 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 Richard B. Russell Dam.