Rocky Creek Dam dam
Rocky Creek Dam
Rocky Creek Dam, located in Vidalia, Georgia, was completed in 1956 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. Owned and operated by a private entity, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 670 feet, with a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet. The dam is designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and is classified as having a low hazard potential.
With a drainage area of 415 square miles, Rocky Creek Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite being unregulated by the state, the dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2017. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its integrity and safety in the face of changing climate conditions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rocky Creek Dam represents a key piece of infrastructure in the Savannah District. Its role in irrigation and water management underscores the importance of sustainable practices in the face of growing water scarcity concerns. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Rocky Creek will be essential to ensuring the resilience of water systems 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 Rocky Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee River Near Mount Vernon | 933 cfs | → |
| Ohoopee River Near Reidsville | 43 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River Near Baxley | 3,510 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Lumber City | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Canoochee River Near Claxton | 2 cfs | → |
| Turnpike Creek Near Mcrae | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rocky Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Cherokee Road Wheeler County
- Benton Powell Road 267-315, Uvalda
- Highway 135, Uvalda
- ⛉ Riverwood Trail 45, Uvalda
- Deen's Landing Road 688-700, Baxley
- East Golden Isles Highway Telfair County
Campgrounds
- Towns Bluff County Park
- Falling Rocks County Park
- Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park
- Little Ocmulgee State Park
- George L Smith State Park
- Primative 4
Track Rocky Creek 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 Rocky Creek Dam
Where does the data for Rocky Creek 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 Rocky Creek Dam.