Little River Ws Str #17 dam
Little River Ws Str #17
Little River WS Str #17 is a state-owned earth dam in Cherokee, Georgia, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1959 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this buttress dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 500 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 252 acre-feet, it serves a drainage area of 696 square miles and has a maximum discharge rate of 252 cubic feet per second.
Despite its crucial role in flood risk management, Little River WS Str #17 poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment as of September 2006. The dam's emergency action plan readiness, risk assessment, and risk management measures remain unspecified, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential disasters. With a moderate risk rating of 3, there is a pressing need for updated inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of this vital water resource infrastructure in the Birmingham environs.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts track the evolving landscape of dam safety and management, the case of Little River WS Str #17 serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by aging infrastructure. With its location in a high-risk area and a history dating back over six decades, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of proactive monitoring, maintenance, and emergency preparedness in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of extreme weather events and changing climate patterns.
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 Little River Ws Str #17 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Etowah River At Canton | 338 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Alpharetta | 31 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Shallowford Road | 14 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Hawkins Store Rd | 7 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Above Roswell | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Below Morgan Falls Dam | 1,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little River Ws Str #17.
Boat launches
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- Overlook Drive 1 163, 30102
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
Campgrounds
- Sweetwater - Allatoona Lake
- Victoria - Allatoona Lake
- Bald Ridge Creek
- Payne - Allatoona Lake
- Sawnee
- Charleston - Lake Lanier
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
Track Little River Ws Str #17 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 Little River Ws Str #17
Where does the data for Little River Ws Str #17 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 Little River Ws Str #17.