Johnson Lake Dam dam
Johnson Lake Dam
Johnson Lake Dam, located in Calhoun, Georgia, is a privately owned structure designed by M. L. Johnson for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam, classified as an earth dam with a buttress core type, stands at a height of 12.9 feet and has a hydraulic height of 12.4 feet. With a storage capacity of 86.8 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 55 acre-feet, the dam creates a surface area of 11 acres and serves a drainage area of 364 square miles.
Despite being unregulated by the state and having a low hazard potential, Johnson Lake Dam poses a moderate risk due to its condition being "not rated." The last inspection, conducted in September 1984, revealed no major issues, but the dam has not been evaluated since. With uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, the dam remains a key feature for recreational activities in the area, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the serene waters of Johnson Lake.
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 Johnson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oostanaula River At Resaca | 578 cfs | → |
| Coosawattee River Near Pine Chapel | 323 cfs | → |
| Two Run Creek Near Kingston | 10 cfs | → |
| Oostanaula River Near Rome | 773 cfs | → |
| Etowah River Near Kingston | 524 cfs | → |
| Conasauga River At Tilton | 247 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Johnson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Drive Northeast Gordon County
- Us 411;Ga 20 Bartow County
- East Rome Bypass, Rome
- Cove Road Murray County
- Heritage Trail Rome
Campgrounds
- Salacoa Creek Park
- The Pocket Recreation Area
- Mckaskey Creek - Allatoona Lake
- Harris Branch - Carters Lake
- Upper Stamp Creek - Allatoona Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Source In Cohutta Wilderness To Nf Boundary North Of Murray's Lake
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Taylors Creek (Rm 74.5) To Nf Boundary (Rm 70.0)
Track Johnson 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 Johnson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Johnson 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 Johnson Lake Dam.