Earnest Lake Dam dam
Earnest Lake Dam
Earnest Lake Dam, located in Columbia, Georgia, was completed in 1966 by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and is owned privately for recreational purposes. The earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a hydraulic height of 21 feet, with a length of 265 feet and a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. Despite being unregulated by the state, the dam is inspected periodically, with the last recorded inspection in 2006 indicating a low hazard potential.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, serving the purpose of recreation for the surrounding area. With a drainage area of 55 square miles and a surface area of 2 acres, Earnest Lake Dam provides a scenic spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality for the community.
In the political landscape, the dam falls under the jurisdiction of the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, with Congressman Jody B. Hice representing the area. Earnest Lake Dam remains a vital structure for water resource management and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and protect for future generations to come.
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 Earnest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 43 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,440 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 11 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,290 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Washington | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earnest Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Columbia County
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Mccormick County
- Saint John's Road, Clarks Hill
- Ridge Road 5943, Columbia County
- Double Branches Boat Ramp
⛺ Campgrounds
- Wildwood County Park
- Petersburg - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Ridge Road - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Bussey Point Wilderness Area
- Pointes West Military - Fort Gordon
- Modoc - Strom Thurmond Lake
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Earnest 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 Earnest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Earnest 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 Earnest Lake Dam.