Shephard Dam dam
Shephard Dam
Shephard Dam, located in Alcovy, Georgia, was completed in 1972 and is primarily used for recreation. The dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a length of 492 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, allowing for the release of excess water in times of high flow. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk.
Owned privately, Shephard Dam is not regulated by the state and does not require permitting for operation. The dam is inspected every five years, with the last inspection conducted in August 2009. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it meets the guidelines for emergency action preparedness. The risk management measures for Shephard Dam are currently unspecified, but the dam's risk assessment suggests that proactive measures may be necessary to mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
Overall, Shephard Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in Walton County, providing a surface area of 11 acres for outdoor activities. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam's earth construction and buttress core types contribute to its structural integrity. With its moderate risk level and low hazard potential, Shephard Dam remains a key feature of the local landscape, offering both leisure and potential challenges for water resource and climate enthusiasts to consider and address.
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 Shephard Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Alcovy River Above Covington | 35 cfs | → |
| Little Haynes Creek At Dial Mill Rd Nr Milstead Ga | 9 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Bald Rock Road | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Jack Turner Dam | 23 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Gees Mill Road | 96 cfs | → |
| Brushy Fork Creek At Beaver Road | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shephard Dam.
Boat launches
- Ccc Camp Loop Morgan County
- Ellis Road Jasper County
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
Campgrounds
- Hard Labor Creek State Park
- Camp Rutledge
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- James Shackleford County Park
Fishing spots
- Black Shoals Lake
- Parkers Lake
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Rhodes Jordan Park
- Twin Lakes
- Lake To-Lani
Track Shephard 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 Shephard Dam
Where does the data for Shephard 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 Shephard Dam.