Sandy Lake Dam dam
Sandy Lake Dam
Sandy Lake Dam, also known as Kelly Lake Dam, is a private dam located in DeKalb, Georgia, with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a hydraulic height of 18 feet, creating a storage capacity of 209 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 542 feet and covers a surface area of 21 acres, making it a popular spot for recreational activities such as fishing and boating.
Despite being privately owned, Sandy Lake Dam is subject to state jurisdiction and inspections, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has a low hazard potential and is categorized as having a moderate risk level. While the condition assessment is not rated, the dam is regularly inspected every five years to monitor its integrity. In the event of an emergency, the dam has uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates for water discharge.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Sandy Lake Dam an interesting case study in dam construction and management. Its design as an earth dam with a buttress core, combined with its recreational purpose, adds to the complexity of balancing safety and enjoyment for visitors. With its location in a populated area like DeKalb, Georgia, understanding the risk and management measures associated with Sandy Lake Dam can provide valuable insights into the intersection of water resource infrastructure and community safety.
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 Sandy Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 49 cfs | → |
| South River At Klondike Road | 134 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 8 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Pleasant Hill Rd | 102 cfs | → |
| Intrenchment Creek Near Atlanta | 4 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ga 124 | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sandy Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- West Palisades Vinings
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
Campgrounds
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- James Shackleford County Park
Fishing spots
- Chapel Hill Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Lake To-Lani
- Buena Vista Lake
- Avondale Lake
- Clayton County International Park
Track Sandy 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 Sandy Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sandy 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 Sandy Lake Dam.