Charles Lake Dam dam
Charles Lake Dam
Charles Lake Dam, also known as Miller Lake Dam, is a private structure located in Bowdon Junction, Georgia. Completed in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 22.1 feet and has a length of 615 feet, serving primarily for fire protection and as a stock or small fish pond. The dam has a storage capacity of 129.4 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 70.6 acre-feet and a surface area of 8.3 acres.
Despite being privately owned, Charles Lake Dam is not regulated by the state and does not require permitting for operation. The dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a moderate risk assessment rating. While the condition of the dam has not been formally assessed, it is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity. The emergency action plan for the dam is currently not prepared or updated, indicating a potential area for improvement in risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Charles Lake Dam offers an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure with important functions for fire protection and wildlife support. Its location in Carroll County, Georgia, and the lack of state regulation raise questions about the effectiveness of oversight for such dams and the need for proactive risk management strategies. With a moderate risk assessment and a low hazard potential, ongoing monitoring and maintenance of Charles Lake Dam will be crucial to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the years to come.
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 Charles Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tallapoosa River (Us 27) At Carrollton | 46 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River Below Bowdon | 158 cfs | → |
| Snake Creek Near Whitesburg | 10 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Below Tallapoosa | 648 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Near Whitesburg | 2,430 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al | 241 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Charles Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hutcheson Ferry Road Carroll County
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park Riverwalk Trail Coweta County
- Us 27 Alternate;16 Whitesburg
- Coleman Boat Ramp Road Cleburne County
- Aaron Drive Randolph County
- Hooch Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- John Tanner State Park
- Tally Valley County Park
- Vfw County Park
- Mcintosh Reserve Park
- Chattahoochee Bend State Park
- Beautiful Rock Campgound
Fishing spots
Track Charles 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 Charles Lake Dam
Where does the data for Charles 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 Charles Lake Dam.