Hickory Lake Dam dam
Hickory Lake Dam
Hickory Lake Dam, located in Columbia, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam that serves the primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1949, this dam stands at 21 feet high and spans 370 feet in length. It impounds the waters of Hickory Branch, offering a surface area of 8 acres and a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk rating, Hickory Lake Dam is not currently regulated or inspected by the state. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and there is no emergency action plan in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hickory Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned recreational structure in need of potential risk assessment and management. Its location in a charming rural setting, paired with its historical significance and engineering design, make it a fascinating subject for further exploration and study.
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 Hickory Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 43 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,440 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 11 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Washington | 18 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Thomson Highway Lincolnton
- Ridge Road 5943, Columbia County
- Mcduffie County
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Double Branches Boat Ramp
- Columbia County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Mistletoe State Park
- Winfield - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Wildwood County Park
- Clay Hill - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Raysville - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Pointes West Military - Fort Gordon
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam.