Hickory Cove Lake Dam dam
Hickory Cove Lake Dam
Hickory Cove Lake Dam, located in Pickens, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation. Built in 1971, this dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans 162 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. The dam's purpose is to provide a scenic lake for recreational activities, offering a surface area of 1 acre for visitors to enjoy.
Despite being unregulated by the state, Hickory Cove Lake Dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and low hazard potential. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, and while its condition is currently unrated, the risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level. Although no emergency action plan has been prepared or updated, the dam meets safety guidelines and is considered to have moderate risk management measures in place.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Hickory Cove Lake Dam to be a picturesque destination for recreational activities, with its peaceful surroundings and moderate risk level adding to its allure. With its historical significance dating back to the early 1970s, this privately owned dam serves as a vital part of the local community and provides a valuable source of enjoyment for visitors seeking a tranquil escape in nature.
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 Hickory Cove Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fausett Creek Near Talking Rock | 4 cfs | → |
| Amicalola Creek Near Dawsonville | 79 cfs | → |
| Talking Rock Creek Near Hinton | 56 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 135 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River Near Ellijay | 243 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 9 | 101 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Cove Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Rocky Ford Campsite
- Amicalola Falls State Park
- Amicalola Mountain
- Harris Branch - Carters Lake
- Doll Mountain - Carters Lake
- Ridgeway - Carters Lake
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
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
Track Hickory Cove 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 Hickory Cove Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hickory Cove 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 Hickory Cove Lake Dam.