Dickson Lake Dam dam
Dickson Lake Dam
Dickson Lake Dam, located in Riverdale, Georgia, was completed in 1958 and stands at a height of 23.2 feet, with a hydraulic height of 18.2 feet. The primary purpose of this private-owned dam is for recreation, with additional purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond maintenance. The dam has a storage capacity of 166 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 14 acres, serving a drainage area of 370 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of January 2017, Dickson Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with uncontrolled outlet gates. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a potential for risk management measures to be implemented. With its close proximity to Riverdale in Fayette County, Georgia, the dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a critical infrastructure for the local community.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dickson Lake Dam falls under the regulatory oversight of the Georgia Safe Dams Program. With a designer credit to SCS (Satterfield), the dam is regularly inspected and permitted by the state, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and environmental significance of Dickson Lake Dam in managing water resources, supporting local ecosystems, and providing recreational opportunities for the community.
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 Dickson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 521 cfs | → |
| South River At Forest Park Road | 21 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 51 cfs | → |
| Intrenchment Creek Near Atlanta | 4 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Fairburn | 2,440 cfs | → |
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 86 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dickson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- 1124 Peachtree City
- Pine Crest Drive 127, Peachtree City
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Hooch Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cochran Mill County Park
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Mcintosh Reserve Park
Fishing spots
- Jester Creek
- Clayton County International Park
- Padgett Lake
- Chapel Hill Park
- Buena Vista Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
Track Dickson 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 Dickson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dickson 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 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 Dickson Lake Dam.