Camp Cherokee Lake Dam dam
Camp Cherokee Lake Dam
Camp Cherokee Lake Dam, located in Cloudland, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 12.2 meters and with a hydraulic height of 11.8 meters, creates a lake with a storage capacity of 142.1 acre-feet and a surface area of 11.4 acres. The dam is situated on the East Fork river and is under the jurisdiction of the state of Georgia, with inspections conducted regularly to ensure its safety.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, Camp Cherokee Lake Dam is subject to moderate risk assessment due to its location and design characteristics. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, with an unlisted foundation type. It has not been rated for its condition, and no emergency action plan is currently in place. The dam has not undergone any modifications since its construction, and its last inspection was conducted in February 2018 with a frequency of every 5 years.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Camp Cherokee Lake Dam offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. With its focus on recreation, the dam provides a valuable resource for the local community while also serving as a reminder of the importance of proper dam maintenance and risk assessment in the face of changing environmental conditions. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the role of structures like Camp Cherokee Lake Dam becomes increasingly crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems.
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 Camp Cherokee Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattooga River At Summerville | 104 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 66 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne | 28 cfs | → |
| Heath Creek Near Armuchee | 3 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al | 187 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Blue Pond Al | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Camp Cherokee Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 613 Dekalb County
- Dekalb County
- Floyd County
- County Road 213 355, Hollywood
- Stevenson City Park Boat Ramp
- Macedonia Road Marion County
Campgrounds
- Camp Skyline Ranch
- De Soto State Park
- Cloudland Canyon State Park
- Backcountry 7
- Backcountry 8
- Backcountry 9
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
Track Camp Cherokee 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 Camp Cherokee Lake Dam
Where does the data for Camp Cherokee 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 Camp Cherokee Lake Dam.