Goat Rock dam
Goat Rock
Goat Rock is a fascinating hydroelectric dam located on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Phenix City, Georgia. Built in 1912 by the Stone and Webster Engineering Company, this gravity dam stands at a height of 69 feet and has a structural height of 65 feet. With a storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet and a normal storage of 8,500 acre-feet, Goat Rock plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
The dam has a spillway width of 910 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 591,400 cubic feet per second, making it a significant infrastructure for flood control and water flow regulation. Despite its age, Goat Rock is well-maintained, with a high hazard potential due to its location and function. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees its operations and inspections, ensuring the safety and efficiency of this vital hydroelectric facility.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Goat Rock presents an intriguing example of early 20th-century engineering ingenuity combined with modern regulatory oversight. Its multi-arch design and rock foundation make it a unique structure in the region, contributing to both the local economy through hydroelectric power generation and the environmental management of the Chattahoochee River watershed. With a risk assessment rating of moderate, Goat Rock serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demand.
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 Goat Rock -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River At Us 280 | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At West Point | 866 cfs | → |
| Upatoi Creek Near Columbus | 364 cfs | → |
| Uchee Creek Near Fort Mitchell | 239 cfs | → |
| Chewacla Creek At Chewacla State Park Nr Auburn | 6 cfs | → |
| Sougahatchee Creek At Co Rd 188 Nr Loachapoka | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goat Rock .
⚓ Boat launches
- Mcculloh Road 9001-9499, Valley
- West 7th Street 199, West Point
- Dam Road Troup County
- Westpoint Road West Point
- County Road 390 Chambers County
- River Bend Park Road Chattahoochee County
Track Goat Rock 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 Goat Rock
Where does the data for Goat Rock 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 Goat Rock .