Mcclure Lake Dam dam
Mcclure Lake Dam
Mcclure Lake Dam, located in Gilmer, Georgia, along the Little Turniptown Creek, is a private dam primarily constructed for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 47 feet and stretching 313 feet in length, the dam offers a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 5 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam has not undergone a formal condition assessment and is currently not rated for its structural integrity.
Owned and operated by a private entity, Mcclure Lake Dam is not regulated by the state of Georgia and does not require permitting for its maintenance or inspection. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified. Although last inspected in January 2017, the dam's condition assessment and emergency preparedness protocols are yet to be fully evaluated.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mcclure Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure management. Its unique buttress core type and uncontrolled spillway design highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems. As a recreational structure in a picturesque location, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in water resource management.
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 Mcclure Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 142 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River Near Ellijay | 247 cfs | → |
| Fausett Creek Near Talking Rock | 3 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 247 cfs | → |
| Talking Rock Creek Near Hinton | 61 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River At Carters | 250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcclure Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area
- Jacks River Fields
- Ridgeway - Carters Lake
- Jacks River Fields Campground
- Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Getaway
- Amicalola Mountain
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
Track Mcclure 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 Mcclure Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mcclure 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 Mcclure Lake Dam.