Trout Farm Lake Dam dam
Trout Farm Lake Dam
Trout Farm Lake Dam, located in Towns, Georgia, was completed in 1968 and serves as a crucial structure on Phillips Branch. This private-owned Earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and has a hydraulic height of 29.3 feet, holding a storage capacity of 46.8 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 28.1 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 2.5 acres and has a drainage area of 2735 acres.
Although Trout Farm Lake Dam has a low hazard potential, its risk assessment is moderate (3), indicating a need for cautious monitoring and management. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a five-year inspection frequency to ensure its structural integrity. Despite not being state-regulated or permitted, Trout Farm Lake Dam plays a significant role in water resource management and climate resilience within the region, highlighting the importance of private-owned infrastructure in safeguarding against potential risks and emergencies.
As a vital component of the water infrastructure in Georgia, Trout Farm Lake Dam stands as a testament to the collaboration between private ownership and state jurisdiction. With its Earth dam construction and buttress core design, the dam represents a critical piece of the water management system in the area. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of Trout Farm Lake Dam in maintaining the balance of water storage and discharge is essential for ensuring sustainable water management practices and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Trout Farm Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala River Near Rainbow Springs | 97 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 60 cfs | → |
| Nottely River Near Blairsville | 60 cfs | → |
| Valley River At Tomotla | 87 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Helen | 57 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Trout Farm Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Music Hall Road Towns County
- Jackrabbit Boating Access
- Lake Chatuge Towns County
- Doucette Circle 2647, 30512
- Hiwassee Street Murphy
- Payne Street Murphy
Campgrounds
- Jackrabbit Mountain Campground
- Georgia Mountain Fair Campground
- Jackrabbit Mountain
- Lake Chatuga
- Clay Co Park
- Clay County Recreation Campground
Fishing spots
- Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm
- Lake Burton
- Seed Lake
- Lake Rabun
- Tallulah Falls Lake
- Massey Branch Fishing Pier
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Standing Indian Basin To Slackwater Of Natahala Lake
- Source Near Chattahoochee Gap To Mark Trail Wilderness Boundary
- Mark Trail Wilderness Boundry To Old Turnpike Crossing Near Vandiver Branch
- Old Turnpike Crossing To Martin Branch Bridge
- Martin Branch Bridge To Robertsontown Bridge On Ga Highway 356
- Owlcamp Branch To Polecat Branch
Track Trout Farm 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 Trout Farm Lake Dam
Where does the data for Trout Farm 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 Trout Farm Lake Dam.