Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 dam
Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3
Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3, located in Telfair, Georgia, was completed in 1970 and serves as a crucial irrigation source in the area. This private dam, designed by SCS, stands at a height of 12 feet with a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet. The dam is primarily earth-filled with a buttress core, and its spillway type is uncontrolled.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been officially rated since its last inspection in 1988. The risk assessment for Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. While there is no state regulation or inspection in place for this dam, it remains an essential infrastructure for the surrounding community's agricultural needs.
Given its historical significance and the critical role it plays in irrigation, Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 is a noteworthy structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to study and monitor. The dam's location, design, and purpose make it an intriguing case study in water management and infrastructure maintenance, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by similar structures 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 Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocmulgee River At Lumber City | 2,960 cfs | → |
| Turnpike Creek Near Mcrae | · | → |
| Oconee River Near Mount Vernon | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River Near Baxley | 4,810 cfs | → |
| Ohoopee River Near Reidsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River Near Alapaha | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3.
Boat launches
- East Golden Isles Highway Telfair County
- Jacksonville Boat Landing Road Telfair County
- Cherokee Road Wheeler County
- Highway 135, Uvalda
- ⛉ Riverwood Trail 45, Uvalda
- Dodge Lake Road;Dodges Lake Lane Telfair County
Track Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 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 Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3
Where does the data for Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3 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 Lower Stapleton Lake Dam No. 3.