West Lake Dam dam
West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam, located in Franklin, Georgia, was completed in 1960 and serves as a recreational area for water enthusiasts in Heard County. This private earth dam stands at a height of 24.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet. With a surface area of 5 acres and a drainage area of 81 square miles, West Lake Dam provides a tranquil setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Although West Lake Dam is categorized as having a low hazard potential, it is considered to have a moderate risk level. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has uncontrolled outlet gates. While the condition of the dam is labeled as "Not Rated," it undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in August 2019. Despite not being regulated by the state or requiring permits, West Lake Dam remains a popular spot for locals and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities it offers.
While the designer of West Lake Dam remains unknown, its primary purpose of recreation continues to attract water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. With its picturesque surroundings and peaceful waters, West Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of preserving and utilizing natural resources for recreational purposes in a responsible and sustainable manner.
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 West Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hillabahatchee Creek At Thaxton Rd | 6 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Us 27 | 1,120 cfs | → |
| New River At Ga 100 | 31 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al | 121 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River Below Bowdon | 40 cfs | → |
| Yellowjacket Cr At Hammett Rd Blw Hogansville | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Troup County
- Mooty Bridge Road Lagrange
- Us 431 Wedowee
- Heard Street Randolph County
- Key Pads Street Randolph County
- Wadeeta Drive Randolph County
Campgrounds
- Brush Creek County Park
- Whitetail Ridge
- Pyne Road Park
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park
- Amity
- Mcintosh Reserve Park
Fishing spots
Track West 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 West Lake Dam
Where does the data for West 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 West Lake Dam.