Ragan Lake Dam dam
Ragan Lake Dam
Ragan Lake Dam, located in Early, Georgia, was completed in 1961 by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and is primarily used for recreation purposes. This earth dam, with a height of 9 meters and a hydraulic height of 9.4 meters, impounds Bay Pole Branch to create a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 33.6 million cubic meters. The dam spans 564 meters in length and covers an area of 11 hectares, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the region.
Despite being privately owned, Ragan Lake Dam falls under the jurisdiction of the state of Georgia and is not regulated or inspected by any state agency. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been evaluated for condition assessment and does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. The lack of state permitting, inspection, and enforcement raises concerns about the long-term safety and maintenance of this structure, especially given its age and the potential impact of climate change on water resources in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor the status of dams like Ragan Lake Dam to ensure their safety and the protection of surrounding communities and ecosystems. With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, it is crucial for stakeholders to advocate for regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness measures to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the sustainability of this recreational water resource in Georgia.
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 Ragan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sawhatchee Creek At Cedar Springs | 31 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Near Iron City | 93 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Near Reynoldsville | 258 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Bainbridge | 3,450 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Riverview Plantation Nr Hopeful | 3,000 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Below Newton | 366 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ragan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Jowers Road Houston County
- Old River Road Early County
- Desser Landing Road Seminole County
- Henry County 136 Henry County
- Field Road Henry County
- Spruce Pine Trail Early County
Campgrounds
- Pioneer Area #1
- Pioneer Area #2
- Houston County Center
- Florida Caverns State Park
- Three Rivers State Park
- River Junction - Lake Seminole
Fishing spots
Track Ragan 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 Ragan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ragan 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 Ragan Lake Dam.