Big Lake Dam dam
Big Lake Dam
Big Lake Dam, also known as Basket Creek North Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in McWhorter, Georgia. Completed in 1994, this earth dam stands at a height of 64.3 feet, with a primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities for water enthusiasts in the area. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 1471.5 acre-feet and a surface area of 54.5 acres, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
Despite its low hazard potential, Big Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity. The last inspection was conducted in May 2018, with a frequency of every 5 years. While the dam is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the risk assessment for the structure is moderate (3), prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures and protocols to be put in place. Overall, Big Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, offering both recreational opportunities and essential water storage capabilities in the region.
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 Big Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River Near Fairburn | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Snake Creek Near Whitesburg | 10 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Whitesburg | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Below Austell | 59 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Near Austell | 58 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River (Us 27) At Carrollton | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hutcheson Ferry Road Carroll County
- Us 27 Alternate;16 Whitesburg
- Hooch Boat Ramp
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park Riverwalk Trail Coweta County
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- 1124 Peachtree City
Campgrounds
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Mcintosh Reserve Park
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park
- John Tanner State Park
- Vfw County Park
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
Fishing spots
Track Big 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 Big Lake Dam
Where does the data for Big 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 Big Lake Dam.