Sheppard Lake Dam dam
Sheppard Lake Dam
Sheppard Lake Dam in Bolingbroke, Georgia, is a private earth dam on Beaverdam Creek primarily used for recreation. With a height of 40 feet and a length of 276 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and it features an uncontrolled outlet gate.
Although the dam's hazard potential is undetermined and its condition is not rated, it undergoes inspections every 5 years, with the last inspection date being in June 2018. The risk assessment for Sheppard Lake Dam is moderate (3), indicating a potential need for risk management measures in the future. Despite not being state-regulated, the dam is within the jurisdiction of Georgia and located in Monroe County. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sheppard Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned recreational structure with moderate risk and a need for ongoing monitoring and potential management measures.
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 Sheppard Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tobesofkee Creek Near Macon | 6 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River At Macon | 694 cfs | → |
| Falling Creek Near Juliette | 9 cfs | → |
| Ocmulgee River Near Jackson | 433 cfs | → |
| Murder Creek Below Eatonton | 37 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Culloden | 465 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheppard Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Dames Ferry County Park
- Claystone County Park
- Arrowhead County Park
- Central City Park - State Fairgrounds
- Gladesville Campground
- High Falls State Park
Fishing spots
- Lake Tobesofkee
- Miller Creek Lake Recreation Area
- High Falls Lake
- Indian Springs State Park Lake
- Houston Lake
- Jackson Lake
Track Sheppard 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 Sheppard Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sheppard 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 Undetermined 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 Sheppard Lake Dam.