Lower Hawkins Lake Dam dam
Lower Hawkins Lake Dam
Lower Hawkins Lake Dam, located in the serene Lake Sinclair Community in Jones, Georgia, was completed in 1972 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 24 feet and a length of 610 feet, offers a storage capacity of 142 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 13 acres. Although the dam is classified as an Earth-type structure with a Buttress core, its hazard potential is considered low, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Managed by a private owner, the dam is not state-regulated or permitted, but does undergo regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The Natural Resources Conservation Service played a key role in its design, and the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers oversees the area. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, contributing to its recreational function for the local community and visitors alike.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Lower Hawkins Lake Dam for its peaceful setting, efficient design, and commitment to safety. With its moderate risk assessment and low hazard potential, the dam serves as a valuable asset for recreation and water management in the area. As an Earth-type structure with a Buttress core, it stands as a testament to effective engineering and responsible stewardship of natural resources in Georgia's landscape.
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 Lower Hawkins Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Murder Creek Below Eatonton | 40 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Eatonton | 38 cfs | → |
| Oconee River At Milledgeville | 300 cfs | → |
| Falling Creek Near Juliette | 13 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Macon | 733 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River Near Jackson | 433 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Hawkins Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Popes Ferry Landing
- Lake Juliette Day Use Area And Boat Ramp
- Round Oak-Juliette Road Monroe County
- Lakeshore Drive 3180, Macon
- Wise Creek Tail Jasper County
- Riverbend Trail Macon
Campgrounds
- Lake Sinclair Recreation Area
- Lake Sinclair
- Oconee Springs County Park
- Dames Ferry County Park
- Gladesville Campground
- Lawrence Shoals
Fishing spots
Track Lower Hawkins 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 Lower Hawkins Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Hawkins 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 Lower Hawkins Lake Dam.