Hat Creek Lake Dam dam
Hat Creek Lake Dam
Hat Creek Lake Dam, located in Sycamore, Turner County, Georgia, is a private Earth dam primarily designed for recreation purposes. Standing at a height of 20.5 feet with a hydraulic height of 20 feet, this dam boasts a storage capacity of 479 acre-feet and a surface area of 25 acres. Despite being unlisted in terms of foundations, the dam serves as a key feature in the surrounding landscape, offering opportunities for water-based activities and wildlife habitat.
Managed by a private entity, Hat Creek Lake Dam has been inspected as recently as July 2015, with a moderate risk assessment indicating potential hazards that are yet to be fully determined. While the hazard potential remains undetermined, the dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," suggesting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental conservation.
As a recreational structure within the Jacksonville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Hat Creek Lake Dam represents a unique blend of human ingenuity and natural beauty in the heart of Georgia. While its specific construction and design details remain unknown, its presence offers a valuable opportunity for individuals to appreciate the importance of sustainable water resource management and the impact of climate change on our built environment. Whether for leisurely activities or educational purposes, this dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human needs and environmental stewardship in a changing world.
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 Hat Creek Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little R At Tifton Worth Co Line Rd | 10 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River Near Alapaha | 55 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Adel | 359 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Ga 32 | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Albany | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Muckalee Creek At Ga 195 | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hat Creek Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Hat Creek 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 Hat Creek Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hat Creek 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 Undetermined 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 Hat Creek Lake Dam.