Swan Lake Dam dam
Swan Lake Dam
Swan Lake Dam, located in Henry, Georgia, is a privately owned structure on the James Creek that serves primarily for recreational purposes. This Earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and spans a length of 1040 feet, with a storage capacity of 669 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as not assessed for its condition.
Despite being unregulated by the state, Swan Lake Dam undergoes inspections every five years to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks. The risk assessment for Swan Lake Dam is moderate, indicating a potential for issues that require management measures to mitigate any potential risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Swan Lake Dam offers a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and recreational infrastructure. Its location in a picturesque setting on the James Creek, combined with its functional design and moderate risk profile, make it a noteworthy example of how dams can serve multiple purposes while requiring ongoing maintenance and risk management.
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 Swan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River At Klondike Road | 119 cfs | → |
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 41 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 12 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 8 cfs | → |
| Intrenchment Creek Near Atlanta | 4 cfs | → |
| South River At Forest Park Road | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- 1124 Peachtree City
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Indian Springs State Park
- Cochran Mill County Park
- High Falls State Park
Fishing spots
- Chapel Hill Park
- Clayton County International Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Jester Creek
- Buena Vista Lake
- Lake To-Lani
Track Swan 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 Swan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Swan 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 Swan Lake Dam.