Lake Charles Dam dam
Lake Charles Dam
Lake Charles Dam, located in Fulton, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation. Built in 1970, this dam stands at a height of 28.1 feet and has a hydraulic height of 21 feet, with a length of 535 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 74 acre-feet and a normal storage of 63 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 7 acres and serves a drainage area of 225 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of February 2016, Lake Charles Dam is classified with a high hazard potential, indicating the potential risks associated with a dam failure. The dam has uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, with an inspection frequency of every 2 years. The risk assessment for this dam is moderate, with no specific risk management measures outlined at this time.
The Lake Charles Dam's location in Roswell makes it a key feature for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor. With its recreational purpose and potential risks, ongoing inspections and management efforts are crucial to ensure the safety and integrity of this important structure in the Savannah District.
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 Lake Charles Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River Below Morgan Falls Dam | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Above Roswell | 615 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Alpharetta | 37 cfs | → |
| Sope Creek Near Marietta | 10 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Norcross | 2 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Hawkins Store Rd | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Charles Dam.
Boat launches
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- West Palisades Vinings
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
Campgrounds
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Payne - Allatoona Lake
- Victoria - Allatoona Lake
- Sweetwater - Allatoona Lake
- Clark Creek South - Allatoona Lake
- Clark Creek North - Allatoona Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles Dam
Where does the data for Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles Dam.