Gowen Lake Dam dam
Gowen Lake Dam
Gowen Lake Dam, located in Charlton, Georgia, is a private dam primarily used for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. This earthen dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a length of 900 feet, providing a storage capacity of 190 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 60 acre-feet and a surface area of 20 acres, the dam serves as an essential water resource in the area.
Managed by a private owner, Gowen Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam is not state-regulated, it undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The last inspection was conducted in July 2016, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. Despite not being federally owned or funded, Gowen Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region.
With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, Gowen Lake Dam presents a unique blend of ecological and recreational opportunities for water resource enthusiasts. The dam's location within the Jacksonville District adds to its significance, highlighting the interconnectedness of water resources and climate considerations in the area. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, dams like Gowen Lake serve as vital infrastructure for sustainable water management practices 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 Gowen Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Prong St. Marys River At Moniac | 0 cfs | → |
| St. Marys River Nr Macclenny | 32 cfs | → |
| Suwannee River At Us 441 | 19 cfs | → |
| Satilla River At Atkinson | 87 cfs | → |
| Satilla River Near Waycross | 48 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At San Juan Ave At Jacksonville | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gowen Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Trader's Hill Boat Ramp
- Buchannon Drive Charlton County
- Bill Johnson Road 2378, Hilliard
- Burnt Fort Road 12100, White Oak
- St George Boat Ramp
- Highway 17 3930, Yulee
Campgrounds
- Traders Hill County Park
- Stephen C. Foster State Park
- Pioneer Camping
- Mixons Hammock Campsite
- Laura S. Walker State Park
- Crooked River State Park
Fishing spots
- Laura S Walker Lake
- Bethesda Pond
- Pope Duval East Pond
- Ocean Pond
- Jekyll Island Fishing Center
- Swift Creek Pond
Paddle runs
- Trader's Hill To Ends Approximately 1 Mile Downstream Of U.S. 301 Crossing
- Begins Approximately 1 Mile Downstream Of U.S. 301 Crossing To Ends Approximately 1 Mile Upstream Of Flea Hill, Georgia
- Begins Approximately 1 Mile Upstream Of Flea Hill, Georgia To The Bells River Confluence
- The Headwaters To The Suwannee River Sill At River Mile 238
- The Suwannee River Sill At River Mile 238 To The Little River Springs At River Mile 81
- The Confluence Of The North Prong And Middle Prong To Trader's Hill
Track Gowen 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 Gowen Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gowen 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 Gowen Lake Dam.