Mccards Lake Dam dam
Mccards Lake Dam
McCards Lake Dam in Georgia, completed in 1960, stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing water resources for recreational purposes. This private-owned earth dam, with a height of 22 feet and a length of 414 feet, primarily serves as a recreational spot for visitors to enjoy its serene surroundings and water activities. Located in the Ebenezer Church Environs in Pike County, Georgia, the dam boasts a maximum storage capacity of 119 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 70 acre-feet, covering an 8-acre surface area.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, McCards Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks for navigation. While the dam has not undergone recent inspections since July 2007, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified. As a crucial part of the Savannah District's water resource infrastructure, McCards Lake Dam continues to play a vital role in providing recreational opportunities and contributing to the region's water resource management efforts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, McCards Lake Dam represents a fascinating intersection of human intervention in natural landscapes. With its tranquil surroundings and moderate risk profile, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between harnessing water resources for recreational activities and ensuring the safety and sustainability of such structures. As discussions around water resource management and climate change intensify, the role of dams like McCards Lake Dam in Georgia will continue to be scrutinized for their impact on local ecosystems and communities.
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 Mccards Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek At Shoal Creek Rd | 10 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Griffin | 64 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Culloden | 666 cfs | → |
| Line Creek Near Senoia | 14 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 26 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River Near Jackson | 441 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mccards Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Bagwell Road Pike County
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- Talbot County
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- Round Oak-Juliette Road Monroe County
Campgrounds
- High Falls State Park
- Indian Springs State Park
- Old Sawmill Campsite
- Bumblebee Ridge Campsite
- Sassafras Hill Campsite
- Gladesville Campground
Fishing spots
- High Falls Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Indian Springs State Park Lake
- Padgett Lake
- Mccant's Mill Pond
- Lake Tobesofkee
Track Mccards 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 Mccards Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mccards 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 Mccards Lake Dam.