Lake Louella Dam dam
Lake Louella Dam
Lake Louella Dam, located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, was completed in 1960 and serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community. With a height of 29.7 feet and a storage capacity of 145 acre-feet, the dam impounds water from Bennett Creek, creating a surface area of 10 acres for various recreational activities. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam is also regulated by the Georgia Safe Dams Program, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Although the dam's hazard potential is rated as high and its condition assessment is poor, regular inspections are conducted to monitor its structural integrity. The last inspection in July 2016 revealed the need for maintenance and potential safety concerns. Despite these challenges, Lake Louella Dam continues to be a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management and maintenance in the face of changing climate conditions. As climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to advocate for sustainable water resource management practices to ensure the long-term safety and viability of structures like Lake Louella Dam.
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 Lake Louella Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Suwanee Creek At Suwanee | 18 cfs | → |
| Dick Creek At Old Atlanta Rd | 4 cfs | → |
| Level Creek At Suwanee Dam Road | 2 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Norcross | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek At Suwanee Dam Road | 5 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River Near Lawrenceville | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Louella Dam.
Boat launches
- Saint Ives Country Club Parkway Johns Creek
- Chattahochee River Park Peachtree Corners
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Kings Point Drive Forsyth County
- Van Pugh North Park
- Browns Bridge Road Forsyth County
Campgrounds
- Shoal Creek - Lake Lanier
- Sawnee
- Chestnut Ridge - Lake Lanier
- Bald Ridge Creek
- Shady Grove - Lake Lanier
- James Shackleford County Park
Fishing spots
Track Lake Louella 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 Lake Louella Dam
Where does the data for Lake Louella 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 Lake Louella Dam.