Whidby Lake Dam dam
Whidby Lake Dam
Whidby Lake Dam, located in Ball Ground, Georgia, stands as a vital piece of infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This private dam serves primarily for recreation, offering a serene getaway for locals and tourists alike. With its earth core and buttress design, the dam boasts a height of 28.9 feet and a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential, Whidby Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2019. The dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its location within Cherokee County highlights the need for continued vigilance in ensuring the safety and integrity of this essential water management structure.
As a focal point in the Nashville District, Whidby Lake Dam plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem and water management system. Its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates add to the dam's functionality, while its recreational value enhances the quality of life for nearby communities. Moving forward, it is imperative for stakeholders to stay abreast of any potential risks and implement necessary risk management measures to safeguard this vital piece of infrastructure for future generations.
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 Whidby Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Etowah River At Canton | 349 cfs | → |
| Amicalola Creek Near Dawsonville | 79 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Shallowford Road | 13 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Hawkins Store Rd | 5 cfs | → |
| Etowah River At Ga 9 | 101 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Alpharetta | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whidby Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Overlook Drive 1 163, 30102
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- State Highway 20 Spur Southeast 1121, Cartersville
- Browns Bridge Road Forsyth County
- North Main Street Southeast Bartow County
- Gayle Drive Southeast Bartow County
Campgrounds
- Sweetwater - Allatoona Lake
- Victoria - Allatoona Lake
- Rocky Ford Campsite
- Upper Stamp Creek - Allatoona Lake
- Payne - Allatoona Lake
- Macedonia - Lake Allatoona
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
Track Whidby 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 Whidby Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whidby 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 Whidby Lake Dam.