Forest Hills Lake Dam dam
Forest Hills Lake Dam
Forest Hills Lake Dam in Richmond, Georgia, stands as a critical water resource structure primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1986 with a height of 34 feet and a length of 365 feet, this earth dam plays a crucial role in storing and managing water for agricultural needs in the region. Managed by a private owner, the dam is state-regulated and subject to regular inspections by the Georgia-SAFE DAMS PROGRAM to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its essential role in water management, Forest Hills Lake Dam is facing challenges with a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2019. With a moderate risk level, the dam requires heightened attention and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities and environment. The dam's spillway is currently uncontrolled, adding to the complexity of managing water levels and potential hazards during extreme weather events or periods of heightened water flow.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor Forest Hills Lake Dam's status and risk assessment, there is a need for proactive measures to address its poor condition and high hazard potential. With its critical role in irrigation and water management, stakeholders must prioritize the safety and maintenance of this essential infrastructure to safeguard against potential risks and ensure sustainable water resource management for the future.
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 Forest Hills Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 27 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 27 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,580 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Brier Creek Near Waynesboro | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Hills Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Mccormick County
- Burnettown
- Columbia County
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Saint John's Road, Clarks Hill
- Ridge Road 5943, Columbia County
Campgrounds
- Lake Leitner Military
- Petersburg - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Wildwood County Park
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
- Lick Fork Lake
- Ridge Road - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
Track Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills Lake Dam
Where does the data for Forest Hills 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 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 Forest Hills Lake Dam.