Kennedy Lake Dam dam
Kennedy Lake Dam
Kennedy Lake Dam, located in Dawson, Georgia, is a private earth dam built in 1930 with a primary purpose of fire protection and serving as a stock or small fish pond. The dam stands at a height of 9.4 feet with a hydraulic height of 9.5 feet and a length of 510 feet. It has a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 15.5 acres. The dam is situated on Chickasawhatchee Creek in Terrell County and is not regulated by the state, but undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential and not currently rated for its condition, Kennedy Lake Dam poses a moderate risk (3) according to risk assessment measures. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, and there are no associated locks or federal agency oversight. The last inspection was conducted in August 2016 with a frequency of every 5 years. While the dam meets the guidelines for emergency action plans, there is no information available on the preparation and revision dates of such plans or the existence of inundation maps.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the area may find Kennedy Lake Dam to be an intriguing site due to its historical significance and the potential risks associated with its condition. As a privately owned structure serving multiple purposes, the dam presents an interesting case for balancing human needs with environmental considerations. Monitoring and maintaining the dam's integrity, as well as implementing appropriate risk management measures, will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of Kennedy Lake and the surrounding area in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource management challenges.
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 Kennedy Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kinchafoonee Creek Near Dawson | 131 cfs | → |
| Muckalee Creek At Ga 195 | 161 cfs | → |
| Kinchafoonee Creek At Preston | 55 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek At Ga 37 | 127 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Albany | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Pachitla Creek Near Edison | 66 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kennedy Lake Dam.
Track Kennedy 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 Kennedy Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kennedy 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 Kennedy Lake Dam.