Rice Lake Dam dam
Rice Lake Dam
Rice Lake Dam in Elbert, Georgia is a privately owned structure primarily used for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond. The dam, classified as an Earth type with a buttress core, stands at a height of 24 feet with a hydraulic height of 20 feet. It spans a length of 420 feet and has a storage capacity of 107 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 85 acre-feet.
Despite being unregulated by the state, Rice Lake Dam is maintained and inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in October 2016. The dam is categorized as having a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment. While its condition is currently not rated, the structure meets safety guidelines and is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rice Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure and risk management. With its unique purpose and design features, the dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment provide an interesting opportunity for further exploration and analysis in the realm of water resource management and climate adaptation.
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 Rice Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Near Bell | 432 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 44 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Elberton Ga | 26 cfs | → |
| Broad River Above Carlton | 365 cfs | → |
| South Fork Broad River At Carlton | 87 cfs | → |
| Rocky River Nr Starr | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rice Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 381, Elberton
- Pearl Mill Road 1437, Elberton
- Millwood Ramp, Calhoun Falls
- Russell Pointe Drive 3845, Elberton
- Blue Hole Boat Ramp
- Middleton Church Road Middleton
Campgrounds
- Calhoun Falls State Rec Area
- Broad River - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Bobby Brown State Park
- Richard B. Russell State Park
- Mount Carmel - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Hesters Ferry - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
- Richard B Russell Lake
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Cherokee Creek
- Cliatt Creek
- Ah Stephens State Park
Track Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake Dam.