Shaw Lake Dam dam
Shaw Lake Dam
Shaw Lake Dam, located in Burke, Georgia, was completed in 1966 and serves as a recreational spot with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for visitors. The earth dam stands at 26 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 23 feet, spanning 630 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 455 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 35 acres, offering a serene environment for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite being privately owned, the dam is subject to state inspection and regulation, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for the public. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been assessed for condition but is deemed to meet guidelines for emergency action planning. Although the dam is uncontrolled, it poses minimal risk to surrounding areas and is well-maintained, providing a picturesque backdrop for those looking to unwind and connect with nature.
Shaw Lake Dam, nestled within the Charleston District, showcases the harmonious blend of man-made infrastructure and natural beauty. With its tranquil waters and recreational offerings, the dam stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management and serves as a haven for climate enthusiasts seeking solace in the great outdoors.
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 Shaw Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brier Creek Near Waynesboro | 219 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,350 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 10 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Near Sardis | 3 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shaw Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Fishing spots
- Gordon Lake
- Lake Olmstead
- Magnolia Springs State Park Lake
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
- Lick Fork Lake
- Lewis Lake
Track Shaw 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 Shaw Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shaw 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 Shaw Lake Dam.