Osage Lake Dam dam
Osage Lake Dam
Osage Lake Dam, located in Macon, North Carolina, is a privately-owned structure that serves the primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1948, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 29 feet, with a structural height of 33 feet and a length of 269 feet. It impounds Watkins Creek, creating a surface area of 16.5 acres and a storage capacity of 211 acre-feet. The dam is under state regulation and has undergone inspections, with its condition assessed as fair during the last inspection in February 2019.
With a hazard potential rated as high, Osage Lake Dam remains a critical infrastructure requiring regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety. The dam has a drainage area of 141 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 25 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities to the residents of Watkins Mill and surrounding areas. With its picturesque location and historical significance, Osage Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience in North Carolina.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Osage Lake Dam become increasingly crucial. The dam's proximity to Watkins Creek and its vital role in providing recreational opportunities highlight the intersection of environmental conservation and community engagement. With its fair condition assessment and history dating back to the mid-20th century, Osage Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts needed to safeguard water resources in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Osage Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 174 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee R At Franklin | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 253 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 75 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Osage Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Lake Rabun Road Rabun County
- Canada Road 14091, Tuckasegee
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
⛺ Campgrounds
- Blue Valley Camp
- Blue Valley Dispersed Camping
- Van Hook Glade Campground
- Van Hook Glade
- Sarah's Creek Campground
- Sarahs Creek
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Ga/Nc State Line To 2 Miles Downriver
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track Osage 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 Osage Lake Dam
Where does the data for Osage 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 Osage Lake Dam.