Garrison Lake Dam dam
Garrison Lake Dam
Garrison Lake Dam, located in Tifton, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1964 by SCS/EDWARDS, the dam stands at 17.7 feet in height and spans 470 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet. While the dam is not state-regulated, it is inspected periodically to ensure its structural integrity, with the last inspection dating back to November 2005.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Garrison Lake Dam plays a significant role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community. With a surface area of 21 acres and a drainage area of 125 square miles, the dam offers a serene setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching. While the dam's spillway is uncontrolled, the dam itself remains a vital part of the landscape, contributing to the environmental and social well-being of the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Garrison Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure for both safety and enjoyment. As a privately owned structure, the dam represents a harmonious blend of human engineering and natural beauty, showcasing the potential for sustainable water management practices. With its historical significance and recreational value, Garrison Lake Dam stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between communities and their water resources in the face of changing climates and evolving needs.
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 Garrison Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little R At Tifton Worth Co Line Rd | 13 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River Near Alapaha | 51 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Adel | 227 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Ga 32 | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Albany | 2,300 cfs | → |
| Muckalee Creek At Ga 195 | 123 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garrison Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Garrison 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 Garrison Lake Dam
Where does the data for Garrison 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 Garrison Lake Dam.