Lake Charles Dam dam
Lake Charles Dam
Lake Charles Dam, located in Meigs, Georgia, is a private-owned earth dam that spans 840 feet across Oaky Woods Creek. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 66 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 972.5 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has not been formally rated for its condition but undergoes inspections every five years. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a hydraulic height of 24.5 feet and a maximum height of 25 feet.
Despite not being state-regulated, Lake Charles Dam is situated within the jurisdiction of Georgia and falls under the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam's designer is unknown, and it has not been modified or updated since its completion, with the last inspection conducted in July 2019. With a congressman representative of Austin Scott (R), the dam serves as a focal point for recreational activities in the area. While it may not have a state permit or enforcement, the dam plays a crucial role in providing a leisurely environment for visitors to enjoy water-based activities in the heart of Thomas County, Georgia.
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 Charles Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ochlockonee River Near Thomasville | 788 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Newton | 4,090 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Riverview Plantation Nr Hopeful | 5,120 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Below Newton | 664 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Near Elmodel | 648 cfs | → |
| Ochlockonee River Nr Concord | 466 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Charles Dam.
Boat launches
- Gainous Road Boat Ramp
- Cedar Springs Road Grady County
- State Park Road Grady County
- Highway 93, Cairo
- Hadley Ferry Road 154, Cairo
- Boat Landing Road Mitchell County
Track Lake Charles 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 Charles Dam
Where does the data for Lake Charles 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 Charles Dam.