Blue Ridge Dam dam
Blue Ridge Dam
Blue Ridge Dam, also known as Lake Toccoa, is a Federal-owned structure located in Fannin, Georgia along the Toccoa River. Built in 1930 by TN Electric Power, this Earth-type dam stands at 175 feet high with a structural height of 183 feet and a length of 1000 feet. Its primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, but it also serves recreational activities in the area.
Managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Blue Ridge Dam has a storage capacity of 228,045 acre-feet and a surface area of 3,220 acres. With a maximum discharge of 100,000 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped with a controlled spillway and Tainter radial outlet gates. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, and it has a risk assessment rating of very high, indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and management measures to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability.
Visitors to Blue Ridge Dam can enjoy its scenic surroundings and recreational opportunities while also appreciating the role it plays in providing hydroelectric power and regulating water flow along the Toccoa River. As a key infrastructure in the region, the dam's design, construction, and operation by the TVA highlight the critical balance between water resource management and environmental conservation in the face of changing climate 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 Blue Ridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 236 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 385 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 135 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River Near Ellijay | 243 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 63 cfs | → |
| Fausett Creek Near Talking Rock | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Ridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Mallard Point Road 109, Fannin County
- Toccoa Avenue 104, Mccaysville
- Jack's Creek Boat Ramp
- Nottely Dam Road Union County
- Watts Place South Union County
- Doucette Circle 2647, 30512
Campgrounds
- Morganton Point Campground
- Morganton Point
- Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area
- Poteete Creek
- Hawk Mountain (Base) Campsite
- Deep Hole
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness To Confluence With Conasauga River
- Nf Boundary To Taylor's Creek In Cherokee Nf (Tn)
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
Track Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Dam
Where does the data for Blue Ridge 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 High 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 Blue Ridge Dam.