Lake Clara Belle Dam dam
Lake Clara Belle Dam
Lake Clara Belle Dam is a privately owned earth dam located in Fulton, Georgia, near the city of Atlanta. The dam, with a height of 29.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 24.2 feet, serves the purpose of impounding water for storage. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 46 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 66 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4.6 acres with a drainage area of 108 square miles.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with a moderate risk assessment, the dam has not been actively regulated or inspected by state authorities. The last recorded inspection took place in June 2017, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. While the dam is considered to be in a not rated condition, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared or updated for potential risks associated with the dam. Overall, Lake Clara Belle Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts, highlighting the importance of proactive dam management and safety measures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Clara Belle Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Utoy Creek At Great Southwest Pkwy Nr Atlanta | 10 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Below Austell | 105 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Near Austell | 86 cfs | → |
| Nickajack Creek At Us 78/278 | 7 cfs | → |
| Proctor Creek At Jackson Parkway | 2 cfs | → |
| Proctor Creek At Hortense Way | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Clara Belle Dam.
Boat launches
- Hooch Boat Ramp
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- West Palisades Vinings
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
Campgrounds
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Old Hwy 41 - Allatoona Lake
- World Famous Lake Military - Atlanta Nas
Fishing spots
Track Lake Clara Belle 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 Clara Belle Dam
Where does the data for Lake Clara Belle 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 Clara Belle Dam.