Powell Lake Dam dam
Powell Lake Dam
Located in Oak Park, Georgia, Powell Lake Dam, also known as Greg Powell Dam, is a private earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 2006 by the NRCS, this dam stands at 18 feet high with a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet and a surface area of 9.9 acres. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Powell Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition but undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its safety.
Despite being a private structure, Powell Lake Dam is not regulated by the state of Georgia and does not require state permitting or enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, making it a key component in providing water for irrigation in the surrounding area. The dam's location in Emanuel County adds to its significance in managing water resources and addressing the impacts of climate change on the local ecosystem.
Powell Lake Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water management in the region, contributing to the enhancement of agricultural practices and water supply reliability. With its strategic design and purposeful construction, this dam symbolizes the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management 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 Powell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohoopee River Near Reidsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Oconee River Near Mount Vernon | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Canoochee River Near Claxton | 2 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River Near Baxley | 3,910 cfs | → |
| Ogeechee River At Midville | 270 cfs | → |
| Ogeechee River At Rocky Ford Rd | 592 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Powell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cherokee Road Wheeler County
- Benton Powell Road 267-315, Uvalda
- Deen's Landing Road 688-700, Baxley
- Highway 135, Uvalda
- ⛉ Riverwood Trail 45, Uvalda
Campgrounds
- George L Smith State Park
- Primative 4
- Primative 5
- Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park
- Falling Rocks County Park
- Towns Bluff County Park
Track Powell 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 Powell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Powell 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 Powell Lake Dam.