Joy Lake Dam
Joy Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Clayton County, Georgia, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Joy Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Joy Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Barnett, John - Joy Lake Llc;better Investments, Llc;clayton County Board Of Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Unnamed near Rex.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 206 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 269 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/10/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Georgia dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Georgia |
| County | Clayton |
| Nearest City | Rex |
| River/Stream | Unnamed |
| Coordinates | 33.61306, -84.31556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 206 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 206 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 269 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Barnett, John - Joy Lake LLC;Better Investments, LLC;Clayton County Board of Commissioners |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/10/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA01302 |
| Federal ID | GA01302 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |