Shope Lake Dam dam
Shope Lake Dam
Shope Lake Dam, located in Gordon, Georgia, is a privately-owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 22.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 20.4 feet. With a storage capacity of 80.3 acre-feet, the dam has a normal storage level of 60.5 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6.8 acres. Despite being unregulated by the state and having a low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3.
Situated in the Nashville District and owned by a private entity, Shope Lake Dam does not have any associated structures or federal agency involvement in its ownership, funding, design, construction, regulation, inspection, or operation. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it is categorized as having moderate risk management measures in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no locks present. It is noteworthy that the dam has not been inspected or assessed for emergency preparedness, indicating potential areas for improvement in its risk management strategies.
Overall, Shope Lake Dam serves as a recreational site in Sonoraville, Georgia, offering opportunities for outdoor activities and water-based enjoyment. As a key feature in the local landscape, the dam's moderate risk level highlights the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of this earth structure for both recreational users and the surrounding environment. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, Shope Lake Dam remains a notable landmark in the region 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 Shope Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coosawattee River Near Pine Chapel | 323 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula River At Resaca | 578 cfs | → |
| Talking Rock Creek Near Hinton | 61 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River At Carters | 233 cfs | → |
| Two Run Creek Near Kingston | 10 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River At Tilton | 247 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shope Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Salacoa Creek Park
- Harris Branch - Carters Lake
- Doll Mountain - Carters Lake
- Woodring Branch - Carters Lake
- Mckaskey Creek - Allatoona Lake
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)
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
Track Shope 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 Shope Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shope 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 Shope Lake Dam.