Ponder Lake Dam dam
Ponder Lake Dam
Located in Bartow, Georgia, Ponder Lake Dam is a private-owned structure primarily designed for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 32 feet with a length of 495 feet, this earth dam serves as a vital component for maintaining a reservoir with a storage capacity of 58.8 acre-feet. The dam overlooks a serene body of water, with a surface area of 2.7 acres and a drainage area of 160 acres.
Constructed with a buttress core type, Ponder Lake Dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlets, emphasizing its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment. Despite not being state-regulated, the dam undergoes regular inspections every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety standards. With its scenic location in Center, Georgia, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management and environmental preservation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ponder Lake Dam serves as a compelling case study in private dam ownership and recreational infrastructure development. From its designer, Joe Branyon Jr., to its unique features such as uncontrolled spillways and outlets, the dam showcases the intersection of human engineering with natural landscapes. As a key element in the local ecosystem, this earth dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also highlights the importance of regular monitoring and risk assessment in maintaining water safety and environmental sustainability.
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 Ponder Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Etowah River At Allatoona Dam | 359 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 61 | 494 cfs | → |
| Two Run Creek Near Kingston | 9 cfs | → |
| Etowah River Near Kingston | 663 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Shallowford Road | 16 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Canton | 357 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ponder Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- State Highway 20 Spur Southeast 1121, Cartersville
- Gayle Drive Southeast Bartow County
- Overlook Drive 1 163, 30102
- North Main Street Southeast Bartow County
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
Campgrounds
- Mckaskey Creek - Allatoona Lake
- Gatewood - Lake Allatoona
- Red Top Mountain State Park
- Macedonia - Lake Allatoona
- Upper Stamp Creek - Allatoona Lake
- 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
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
Track Ponder 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 Ponder Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ponder 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 Ponder Lake Dam.