Matthews Lake Dam dam
Matthews Lake Dam
Matthews Lake Dam, located in Bartow, Georgia, was completed in 1955 and serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam, primarily designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an earth dam with a buttress core type and stands at a height of 24.8 feet. It has a storage capacity of 160.7 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10.1 acres, drawing water from a drainage area of 419 square miles.
Although the dam is uncontrolled and has a low hazard potential, it is regularly inspected every five years to ensure its safety and functionality. The last inspection took place in April 2018, and the dam was found to be in a condition that was not rated. While there are currently no emergency action plans in place for the dam, the risk assessment categorizes it as having a moderate risk level.
Despite its uncontrolled spillway and lack of state regulatory oversight, Matthews Lake Dam remains a popular recreational destination in Cassville, offering visitors a serene and picturesque environment to enjoy various water activities. Its historical significance as a part of Georgia's water infrastructure and its role in providing leisure opportunities make it a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate.
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 Matthews Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Two Run Creek Near Kingston | 10 cfs | → |
| Etowah River Near Kingston | 524 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 61 | 416 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Allatoona Dam | 359 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 1 Loop | 598 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula River Near Rome | 773 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Matthews Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
- State Highway 20 Spur Southeast 1121, Cartersville
- Park Drive Northeast Gordon County
- Gayle Drive Southeast Bartow County
- Overlook Drive 1 163, 30102
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
Campgrounds
- Mckaskey Creek - Allatoona Lake
- Gatewood - Lake Allatoona
- Upper Stamp Creek - Allatoona Lake
- Macedonia - Lake Allatoona
- Red Top Mountain State Park
- Mckinney - Allatoona Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
Track Matthews 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 Matthews Lake Dam
Where does the data for Matthews 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 Matthews Lake Dam.