Cawthon Lake Dam dam
Cawthon Lake Dam
Cawthon Lake Dam, located in Butts, Georgia, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1953 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Standing at a height of 17 feet and a length of 375 feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including water storage and flood control for the surrounding area. With a normal storage capacity of 71 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1069 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being unregulated by the state and having a low hazard potential, Cawthon Lake Dam is subject to periodic inspections to ensure its structural integrity and overall safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, allowing for controlled release of excess water during times of heavy rainfall. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's risk management measures are continuously monitored and updated as needed to mitigate any potential threats to the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cawthon Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in the management of water infrastructure in Georgia. Its location, design, and operational characteristics make it a fascinating subject for those interested in the intersection of engineering, conservation, and environmental stewardship. As the dam continues to play a vital role in water management in the region, its maintenance and monitoring will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of its operations for years to come.
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 Cawthon Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ocmulgee River Near Jackson | 433 cfs | → |
| Alcovy River Below Covington | 35 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Ga 212 | 7 cfs | → |
| Pates Creek At Buster Lewis Rd Near Flippen | 12 cfs | → |
| Falling Creek Near Juliette | 9 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek At Shoal Creek Rd | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cawthon Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Wise Creek Tail Jasper County
- Ellis Road Jasper County
- Round Oak-Juliette Road Monroe County
- Lake Juliette Day Use Area And Boat Ramp
- Lakeshore Drive Henry County
- West Mcintosh Road Spalding County
Campgrounds
- Indian Springs State Park
- High Falls State Park
- Rush Creek Campground
- Newton Factory Shoals Rec Area
- Gladesville Campground
- Dames Ferry County Park
Fishing spots
- Indian Springs State Park Lake
- Jackson Lake
- High Falls Lake
- Griffin City Reservoir
- Clayton County International Park
- Davidson Mountain Nature Preserve
Track Cawthon 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 Cawthon Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cawthon 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 Cawthon Lake Dam.