Carl Graham Lake Dam dam
Carl Graham Lake Dam
Carl Graham Lake Dam, also known as Graham's Pond, is a private recreational dam located in Laurens, Georgia. Completed in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and stretches 640 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 218 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 20 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Carl Graham Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam is currently listed as not rated in terms of condition assessment, it undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity. Despite not being state-regulated or permitted, the dam is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlets, contributing to its recreational use without the need for locks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Carl Graham Lake Dam presents an opportunity to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and environmental recreation. As a privately-owned structure, the dam provides a valuable space for leisure activities while also serving as a testament to the importance of proper maintenance and risk management in maintaining safe and sustainable water resources.
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 Carl Graham Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee River At Dublin | 635 cfs | → |
| Oconee River Near Mount Vernon | 899 cfs | → |
| Oconee River Near Oconee | 566 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Ga 272 | 21 cfs | → |
| Williamson Swamp Creek At Davisboro | 30 cfs | → |
| Ogeechee River At Midville | 219 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carl Graham Lake Dam.
Fishing spots
Track Carl Graham 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 Carl Graham Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carl Graham 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 Carl Graham Lake Dam.