O'Quinn Lake Dam dam
O'Quinn Lake Dam
O'Quinn Lake Dam, located in Wheeler, Georgia, was completed in 1970 and serves as a recreational attraction in the Alamo Environs area. With a primary purpose of recreation, this private earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 515 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 164 acre-feet. The dam overlooks a surface area of 17 acres and drains a watershed of 640 acres, providing a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Despite being unregulated by the state, O'Quinn Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The last inspection in July 2016 deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition, with its emergency action plan and inundation maps still pending preparation. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates contribute to its recreational appeal, offering visitors a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. With its tranquil surroundings and moderate risk management measures, O'Quinn Lake Dam remains a popular destination for nature lovers and water recreation enthusiasts in Georgia.
As part of the Savannah District, O'Quinn Lake Dam falls under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring that it meets federal safety standards and operational guidelines. While the dam's associated structures are limited, its earth core construction and buttress foundation contribute to its stability and resilience against potential hazards. With the support of federal agencies and periodic inspections, the dam continues to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to appreciate the beauty of Georgia's water resources amidst the challenges of climate change.
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 O'Quinn Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee River Near Mount Vernon | 899 cfs | → |
| Turnpike Creek Near Mcrae | · | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Lumber City | 2,060 cfs | → |
| Oconee River At Dublin | 635 cfs | → |
| Altamaha River Near Baxley | 3,400 cfs | → |
| Ohoopee River Near Reidsville | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near O'Quinn Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cherokee Road Wheeler County
- East Golden Isles Highway Telfair County
- Dodge Lake Road, Eastman
- Highway 135, Uvalda
- ⛉ Riverwood Trail 45, Uvalda
- Benton Powell Road 267-315, Uvalda
Campgrounds
- Little Ocmulgee State Park
- Towns Bluff County Park
- Falling Rocks County Park
- Ben Hill Landing County Park
Fishing spots
Track O'Quinn 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 O'Quinn Lake Dam
Where does the data for O'Quinn 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 O'Quinn Lake Dam.