Mcdonough Reservoir Dam dam
Mcdonough Reservoir Dam
McDonough Reservoir Dam, also known as Walnut Creek Lake Dam, is a critical water supply infrastructure located in Henry, Georgia. Owned and regulated by the local government, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 35 feet and stretches over 660 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 1665 acre-feet and a surface area of 88 acres, it serves the primary purpose of providing water supply to the region.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of February 2019, the dam poses a high hazard potential and is subject to regular state inspection, permitting, and enforcement by the GA-SAFE DAMS PROGRAM. The spillway type is listed as uncontrolled, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and maintenance. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and inundation maps preparation are currently unspecified, suggesting areas for improvement in emergency preparedness.
In the midst of increasing concerns about water resource management and climate change impacts, the McDonough Reservoir Dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure ensuring reliable water supply to the surrounding area. With its strategic location on Walnut Creek and a capacity to store 1665 acre-feet of water, this dam plays a crucial role in meeting the water needs of the local community. However, ongoing attention to maintenance, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness will be essential to safeguarding the dam's integrity and the surrounding environment in the face of potential hazards.
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 Mcdonough Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 13 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 7 cfs | → |
| South River At Klondike Road | 125 cfs | → |
| South River At Flakes Mill Road Nr Atlanta | 45 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Lovejoy | 63 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Gees Mill Road | 104 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcdonough Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- Burch Lake Road Fayette County
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
- Ellis Road Jasper County
- Peachtree Parkway 488, Shake Rag
- Wise Creek Tail Jasper County
Campgrounds
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Indian Springs State Park
- High Falls State Park
- Stone Mountain Campground
- Stone Mountain Park Campground
- Rush Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Clayton County International Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
- Jester Creek
- Chapel Hill Park
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Jackson Lake
Track Mcdonough Reservoir 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 Mcdonough Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Mcdonough Reservoir 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 High 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 Mcdonough Reservoir Dam.