Josephs Lake Dam dam
Josephs Lake Dam
Josephs Lake Dam, located in Rockdale, Georgia, was completed in 1970 for recreational purposes. This earth dam stands at 22 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 17 feet, providing a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. Despite being privately owned and not regulated by the state, the dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. It spans 396 feet in length and covers a surface area of 16 acres. While the dam has not been inspected since September 2018, it has an inspection frequency of every 5 years. Although the condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level with no emergency action plan in place.
Overall, Josephs Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource for the Camp Smyrna Community, offering recreational opportunities while also posing a moderate risk level. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and assess the condition of dams like Josephs Lake to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Josephs Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 7 cfs | → |
| South River At Klondike Road | 111 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Pleasant Hill Rd | 76 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Gees Mill Road | 103 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Bald Rock Road | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Haynes Creek At Jack Turner Dam | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Josephs Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Ellis Road Jasper County
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Ccc Camp Loop Morgan County
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Hard Labor Creek State Park
- Camp Rutledge
- Indian Springs State Park
Fishing spots
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Chapel Hill Park
- Parkers Lake
- Black Shoals Lake
- Lake To-Lani
- Avondale Lake
Track Josephs 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 Josephs Lake Dam
Where does the data for Josephs 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 Josephs Lake Dam.