Banks Lake Dam dam
Banks Lake Dam
Banks Lake Dam in Lanier, Georgia, is a state-owned structure completed in 1930 primarily for recreation purposes. This Earth dam with a height of 15 feet and a length of 360 feet impounds Mill Creek, creating a surface area of 700 acres and a normal storage capacity of 3,450 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is inspected every five years, with the last inspection conducted in March 2016.
Situated within the Jacksonville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Banks Lake Dam is not federally owned or regulated. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, with no associated locks. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its risk management measures and emergency action plans are not specified in the available data. The surrounding area offers ample opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate this important structure in Georgia's water management system.
For those interested in water resources and climate, Banks Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study for understanding the role of state-owned dams in providing recreational opportunities while managing water resources. Its location in Lanier, Georgia, and its impoundment of Mill Creek make it a focal point for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. As enthusiasts explore the dam and its surrounding area, there is a wealth of information and potential research opportunities to better understand the intersection of water management, dam safety, and climate resilience in this region.
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 Banks Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Withlacoochee River At Mcmillan Rd | 183 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River At Statenville | 58 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River Near Alapaha | 67 cfs | → |
| Withlacoochee River At Us 84 | 512 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Adel | 276 cfs | → |
| Alapaha River Near Jennings Fla | 117 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Banks Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Valdosta Highway, Valdosta
- Highway 94, Statenville
- Adel Highway 17562, Barney
- Rountree Bridge Road Colquitt County
- Reed Bingham State Park
- Reed Bingham Road Colquitt County
Fishing spots
Track Banks 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 Banks Lake Dam
Where does the data for Banks 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 Banks Lake Dam.