Nelson-Johnson dam
Nelson-Johnson
Nelson-Johnson, located in Gibson, Georgia, is a private fish and wildlife pond constructed in 1952 by the USDA NRCS. This earth dam has a height of 21 feet and a length of 480 feet, providing a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Nelson-Johnson is to support fish and wildlife habitat, with additional benefits for fire protection and stock pond usage.
The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 70 feet, and the hazard potential is rated as low, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam is designated as non-USACE and does not have an emergency action plan in place. Despite these limitations, Nelson-Johnson remains a valuable resource for the local ecosystem and water management in Warren County.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Nelson-Johnson to be an intriguing site, showcasing the intersection of human development and environmental conservation. Its modest size and low hazard potential make it an interesting case study for sustainable water management practices, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring small-scale water infrastructure for both ecological and human benefit. The history and design details of Nelson-Johnson offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Nelson-Johnson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Washington | 11 cfs | → |
| Kettle Creek Near Washington | 2 cfs | → |
| Williamson Swamp Creek At Davisboro | 31 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 10 cfs | → |
| Oconee River At Milledgeville | 294 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson-Johnson.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- A.H. Stephens State Park
- Rv/Tent Camping
- Pioneer Camping Area
- Equestrian Camping
- Hamburg State Park
- Big Hart - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
Track Nelson-Johnson 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 Nelson-Johnson
Where does the data for Nelson-Johnson 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 Nelson-Johnson.