Bourne Lake Dam dam
Bourne Lake Dam
Bourne Lake Dam, also known as Bowen Lake Dam, is a private earth dam located in Union, Georgia. Built in 1954 by E.S. Daughtery, this impressive structure stands at 23 feet high and spans 400 feet in length. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, providing a serene oasis for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
With a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a drainage area of 450 acres, Bourne Lake Dam offers a tranquil setting with a surface area of 5 acres for outdoor activities. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and it has been assessed to have a low hazard potential. While its condition is currently not rated, the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk (3), highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Despite not being state-regulated, Bourne Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community, offering a safe and enjoyable environment for recreational activities. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the beauty and functionality of this earth dam, while recognizing the need for continued vigilance to ensure its long-term safety and sustainability.
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 Bourne Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 64 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 95 cfs | → |
| Toccoa River Near Dial | 247 cfs | → |
| Ocoee River At Copperhill | 245 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Helen | 60 cfs | → |
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bourne Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Watts Place South Union County
- Nottely Dam Road Union County
- Doucette Circle 2647, 30512
- Jack's Creek Boat Ramp
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
Campgrounds
- Poteete Creek
- Hanging Dog
- Fires Creek Hunt Camp
- Fires Creek Hunters Camp
- Cooper Creek Recreation Area
- Cooper Creek
Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Dockery Lake
- Noontootla Creek Farms
- Lake Burton
- Tellico River
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
Paddle runs
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line
- Headwaters Near Mitchell Lick To Owlcamp Branch
Track Bourne 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 Bourne Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bourne 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 Bourne Lake Dam.