Lake North Dam dam
Lake North Dam
Lake North Dam, also known as A.G. Spanos Dam, is a private earth dam located in Fulton County, Georgia, near the city of Atlanta. Standing at a height of 32.9 feet and with a length of 260 feet, this dam provides storage capacity of up to 70 acre-feet for the surrounding area. Despite not being state regulated, it is subject to state inspection to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Constructed with a buttress core type, Lake North Dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While its condition is currently not rated, it undergoes inspection every five years to assess any potential risks or issues. The dam's location within the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers adds to its significance for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in monitoring and managing such structures for environmental and safety purposes.
Overall, Lake North Dam serves as a vital component of the water management infrastructure in the region, providing storage capacity and flood control measures for the surrounding area. Its presence highlights the importance of proper dam maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety of communities and the protection of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions. For enthusiasts in the field, Lake North Dam offers a valuable case study in dam engineering and risk management practices.
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 Lake North Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River Above Roswell | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Below Morgan Falls Dam | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Norcross | 2 cfs | → |
| Sope Creek Near Marietta | 10 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Alpharetta | 34 cfs | → |
| Nancy Creek At Rickenbacker Drive | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake North Dam.
Boat launches
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- West Palisades Vinings
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
Campgrounds
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Payne - Allatoona Lake
- Victoria - Allatoona Lake
- Sweetwater - Allatoona Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lake North 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 Lake North Dam
Where does the data for Lake North 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 Lake North Dam.