Kirkpatrick Lake Dam dam
Kirkpatrick Lake Dam
Kirkpatrick Lake Dam, located in Polk, Georgia, was completed in 1950 and stands at a height of 9.6 feet with a primary purpose of recreation. The earth dam with a buttress core spans 273 feet and has a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Cedar Creek, the dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has an uncontrolled outlet gate. Despite being privately owned and not regulated by the state, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as not assessed for condition.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Kirkpatrick Lake Dam for its recreational value and moderate risk assessment rating. The dam's location in the picturesque city of Cedartown offers visitors a serene setting for outdoor activities and nature exploration. With a surface area of 10.1 acres and a normal storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, the dam provides a vital water resource for the surrounding area and serves as a habitat for diverse aquatic species. While the dam is not under the jurisdiction of a state regulatory agency, its moderate risk level indicates the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental preservation.
Overall, Kirkpatrick Lake Dam represents a unique blend of natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and water resource management. Its historical significance as a 1950s construction adds to the allure for visitors interested in the intersection of engineering and environmental conservation. As climate change impacts become more pronounced, understanding and maintaining such water infrastructure will be crucial for sustainable water resource management in the region.
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 Kirkpatrick Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Cedartown | 90 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek At Ga Ave At Cedartown | 5 cfs | → |
| Coosa River Near Rome | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 147 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 1 Loop | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al | 305 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kirkpatrick Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cherokee County 556, Centre
- Heritage Trail Rome
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
- Floyd County
- Highway 68, Cedar Bluff
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
Campgrounds
- Trailcampground Silver Comet
- Coosa River County Park
- Chief Ladiga Trail Campground
- Beautiful Rock Campgound
- Vfw County Park
- Tally Valley County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
Track Kirkpatrick 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 Kirkpatrick Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kirkpatrick 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 Kirkpatrick Lake Dam.