Bell Lake Dam dam
Bell Lake Dam
Bell Lake Dam in Bellville, Georgia, is a private Earth dam situated on Billy Fork Creek. Designed by NRCS- George Rice, the dam stands at a height of 20 feet with a hydraulic height of 18 feet, providing a storage capacity of 117 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it is categorized as having a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment.
Although the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," it undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity. With no state regulation or permitting required, Bell Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Despite its relatively small surface area of 9 acres, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control and water storage in Evans County.
With its proximity to the Savannah District and the oversight of emergency contacts, Bell Lake Dam remains a key component in the local water resource management system. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Bell Lake becomes increasingly significant for ensuring the resilience of the community in the face of evolving climate 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 Bell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canoochee River Near Claxton | 2 cfs | → |
| Ohoopee River Near Reidsville | 43 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River Near Baxley | 3,720 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Blitchton | 1 cfs | → |
| Ogeechee River Near Eden | 552 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River At Doctortown | 4,860 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Getaway Lane, Surrency
- Landing Road 438, Baxley
- Arnold River Road 599, Jesup
- Deen's Landing Road 688-700, Baxley
- Pig Farm Landing
- Benton Powell Road 267-315, Uvalda
Campgrounds
- Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park
- Falling Rocks County Park
- Holbrook Pond Military - Fort Stewart
- Holbrook Pond Campground
- George L Smith State Park
Fishing spots
Track Bell 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 Bell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bell 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 Bell Lake Dam.