Childer's Lake Dam dam
Childer's Lake Dam
Childer's Lake Dam, located in Lucius, Georgia, is a private recreational dam completed in 1976 with an earth core and buttress foundation. Standing at a height of 24 feet and a length of 146 feet, it has a storage capacity of 25 acre-feet. Despite being unregulated and uninspected since 1982, the dam is classified as low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating.
The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates. Although the dam is not state-regulated, it is within the jurisdiction of the Nashville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The surrounding area of Gilmer County, Georgia, offers a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy water-based activities and outdoor recreation. Additionally, the dam is situated in the district represented by Congressman Doug Collins, a Republican from Georgia.
While Childer's Lake Dam may not be a prominent fixture in the water resource and climate community, its role in providing recreational opportunities and contributing to the local landscape cannot be overlooked. As a privately owned structure with limited oversight, it serves as a reminder of the diverse array of dams across the United States that play a role in shaping our environment and providing leisure activities for residents and visitors alike.
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 Childer's Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 236 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 135 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River Near Ellijay | 243 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 385 cfs | → |
| Fausett Creek Near Talking Rock | 4 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Childer's Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Mallard Point Road 109, Fannin County
- Toccoa Avenue 104, Mccaysville
- Lake Conasauga Murray County
- Gilmer County
- Jack's Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Jacks River Fields
- Jacks River Fields Campground
- Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area
- Morganton Point Campground
- Morganton Point
- Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Getaway
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Childer's 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 Childer's Lake Dam
Where does the data for Childer's 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 Childer's Lake Dam.