Williams Dam dam
Williams Dam
Williams Dam, located in Cobb County, Georgia, serves as a vital structure for fish and wildlife pond management along the Tr- Sope Creek. Built in 1958 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 400 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, making it essential for ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
With a spillway width of 28 feet and a maximum discharge of 48 cubic feet per second, Williams Dam plays a critical role in managing water flow in the area. While the dam does not have controlled spillways, its uncontrolled spillway design allows for the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow. The dam's primary purpose of supporting fish and wildlife habitats underscores its importance in promoting biodiversity and ecological balance in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to advocate for sustainable water management practices, Williams Dam stands as a significant example of how infrastructure can support environmental conservation efforts. With its longstanding history and essential function in maintaining local ecosystems, the dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between human infrastructure and natural resources, highlighting the importance of responsible stewardship 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 Williams Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sope Creek Near Marietta | 14 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Below Morgan Falls Dam | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Hawkins Store Rd | 19 cfs | → |
| Noonday Creek At Shallowford Road | 23 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River Above Roswell | 623 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Atlanta | 904 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Johnson Ferry Road Southeast Sandy Springs
- Riveredge Lane Northwest Sandy Springs
- West Palisades Vinings
- Cobb Parkway South Vinings
- Lake Windward Landing 139, Alpharetta
- Overlook Drive 1 163, 30102
⛺ Campgrounds
- Dobbins Lakeside Military
- Payne - Allatoona Lake
- Victoria - Allatoona Lake
- Clark Creek South - Allatoona Lake
- Sweetwater - Allatoona Lake
- Clark Creek North - Allatoona Lake
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Williams 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 Williams Dam
Where does the data for Williams 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 Significant 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 Williams Dam.