Rainbow Lake Dam dam
Rainbow Lake Dam
Rainbow Lake Dam, located in Gilmer, Georgia, is a private earth dam constructed in 1960 by designer Clark Rogers. The dam's primary purpose is for recreational use, with a height of 50 feet and a length of 500 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 1695 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Davis Creek and is regulated by the Georgia Safe Dams Program, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Rainbow Lake Dam continues to be a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. The dam's moderate risk assessment indicates a level 3 risk, prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures to address any potential safety concerns. With the last inspection conducted in March 2016, stakeholders are advised to stay informed about any updates or changes related to the dam's condition and emergency preparedness plans.
As a key feature in the Nashville District and with Congressman Doug Collins representing the area, Rainbow Lake Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and climate considerations. Its location in Ollie, Georgia, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both safety and environmental sustainability. Water resource and climate enthusiasts are encouraged to stay engaged with the management and upkeep of Rainbow Lake Dam to ensure its continued enjoyment and protection for future generations.
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 Rainbow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coosawattee River Near Ellijay | 306 cfs | → |
| Cartecay River Near Ellijay | 168 cfs | → |
| Holly Creek Near Chatsworth | 42 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Crandall | 9 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River At Carters | 253 cfs | → |
| Fausett Creek Near Talking Rock | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainbow Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Getaway
- Fort Mountain State Park
- Backcountry Campsite #2
- Backcountry Campsite 4
- Backcountry Campsite 3
- Ridgeway - Carters Lake
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Southern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Peter Cove To Northern Boundary Cohutta Wilderness Near Alaculsy
- 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)
- Apalachia Powerhouse (Rm 53.5) To Us411 Bridge (Rm 43.0)
Track Rainbow 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 Rainbow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rainbow 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 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 Rainbow Lake Dam.