Lonesome Oak Dam dam
Lonesome Oak Dam
Lonesome Oak Dam, also known as Gholston Lake Dam, is a privately owned earth dam located in Madison, Georgia. Constructed in 1974, this dam stands at a height of 33 feet and has a length of 450 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 129 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-related activities.
Situated on Little Scull Shoal Creek, Lonesome Oak Dam is under state jurisdiction and receives regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam poses minimal risk to surrounding communities in the event of a failure. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the maintenance and management of dams like Lonesome Oak to prevent any potential risks to the environment and public safety.
Despite its private ownership and limited federal involvement, Lonesome Oak Dam serves as a valuable recreational resource in the area, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam provides a unique habitat for wildlife and a serene environment for visitors to appreciate the beauty of Georgia's waterways. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it is crucial to prioritize the upkeep and monitoring of dams like Lonesome Oak to ensure their long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving environmental 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 Lonesome Oak Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Above Carlton | 365 cfs | → |
| South Fork Broad River At Carlton | 87 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Elberton Ga | 26 cfs | → |
| North Oconee River At College St | 73 cfs | → |
| Middle Oconee River Near Athens | 120 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 432 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lonesome Oak Dam.
Boat launches
- Anderson Highway 2925, Elberton
- Middleton Church Road 1276, Elberton
- Middleton Church Road Middleton
- Boat Ramp Hart County
- Olympic Rowing Drive 2790, Elberton
Campgrounds
- Pioneer 3
- Pioneer 1
- Pioneer 2
- River's Edge Campground
- Victoria Bryant State Park
- Richard B. Russell State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Brasstown Creek And Little Brasstown Creek Just South Of Brasstown Falls Road (Fs 751) To Confluence Of Mill Branch, Brasstown Creek And Boatwright Creek Near Boatwright Road (Fs 753)
- Confluence Of Cedar Creek To 1/4 Mile Below The Nf Boundary And Fh 110, Cobbs Bridge Road
- South Of Cedar Creek Rifle Range To Confluence With Chauga River
- 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp To Confluence Of Cedar Creek
- Crpssing Of Land Bridge Road, Sc 196 To 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
Track Lonesome Oak 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 Lonesome Oak Dam
Where does the data for Lonesome Oak 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 Lonesome Oak Dam.