Mcwilliams Lake Dam dam
Mcwilliams Lake Dam
Mcwilliams Lake Dam in Forsyth, Georgia, stands as a testament to both engineering prowess and natural beauty. This privately-owned Earth dam, completed in 1956, primarily serves as a recreational spot, offering visitors a tranquil escape amidst its 5-acre surface area. With a modest height of 19 feet and a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, the dam boasts a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, making it a safe and enjoyable destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Despite its age, Mcwilliams Lake Dam continues to stand strong, with its condition remaining unrated as of the last inspection in 1992. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, emphasizing its simple yet functional design. While not state-regulated or regularly inspected, the dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk classification suggest that it poses minimal threat to surrounding areas. With its picturesque location and historical significance, Mcwilliams Lake Dam is a hidden gem worth exploring for those interested in water resources and climate resilience.
As visitors venture to Mcwilliams Lake Dam in the Cumming community, they can appreciate its Earth construction and buttress core type, showcasing a blend of natural materials and structural stability. The dam's association with the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers adds to its historical and environmental significance. While lacking in modern regulatory oversight, this dam remains a charming example of early water management practices, serving as a valuable reminder of the delicate balance between human intervention and natural forces in shaping our water resources.
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 Mcwilliams Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River At Buford Dam | 636 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek At Suwanee Dam Road | 6 cfs | → |
| Level Creek At Suwanee Dam Road | 3 cfs | → |
| Dick Creek At Old Atlanta Rd | 3 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 9 | 95 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Alpharetta | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcwilliams Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
- Browns Bridge Road Forsyth County
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Van Pugh North Park
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
Campgrounds
- Bald Ridge Creek
- Sawnee
- Charleston - Lake Lanier
- Shady Grove - Lake Lanier
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
- Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
Track Mcwilliams 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 Mcwilliams Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mcwilliams 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 Mcwilliams Lake Dam.