Lake Carlton Dam dam
Lake Carlton Dam
Lake Carlton Dam in Gwinnett, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily designed for recreational purposes. The dam, with a height of 19 feet and a length of 1045 feet, provides storage of 1088 acre-feet of water in Lake Carlton. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as being in moderate risk.
While the dam's condition is not currently rated, it is notable for its buttress core type and uncontrolled spillway. The dam does not fall under state regulation, inspection, or enforcement. Despite its unregulated status, Lake Carlton Dam plays a vital role in providing recreational opportunities for water enthusiasts in the area, showcasing the importance of water resources in maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment.
Located within the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Carlton Dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between private owners and federal agencies in managing water resources for recreational purposes. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the preservation and maintenance of such dams become increasingly crucial in ensuring the resilience of our water infrastructure for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts.
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 Carlton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brushy Fork Creek At Beaver Road | 3 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Lenora Road | 9 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River At New Hope Road | 19 cfs | → |
| No Business Creek At Lee Road | 3 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Jack Turner Dam | 24 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ga 124 | 78 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Carlton Dam.
Boat launches
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Ccc Camp Loop Morgan County
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Van Pugh North Park
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Campground
- James Shackleford County Park
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Fort Yargo State Park
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
- Hard Labor Creek State Park
Fishing spots
- Parkers Lake
- Black Shoals Lake
- Rhodes Jordan Park
- Collins Hill Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Lake To-Lani
Track Lake Carlton 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 Carlton Dam
Where does the data for Lake Carlton 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 Carlton Dam.