Sweet Water dam
Sweet Water
Sweet Water, also known as Lewis Pond Dam, is a private recreational water resource located in Marengo, Alabama. Built in 1966, this dam spans 655 feet and stands at a structural height of 32 feet, with a hydraulic height of 29 feet. The primary purpose of Sweet Water is for recreation, offering a serene environment for enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing and boating on the Lewis Branch stream.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Sweet Water has not been rated for its condition assessment, and it does not fall under state regulation or jurisdiction. The dam has a storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 108 acre-feet. In the event of an emergency, there is no detailed Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, raising questions about the preparedness and risk management measures for this water resource.
Located in Congressional District 07 of Alabama, Sweet Water serves as a vital recreational spot within the region. With its picturesque setting and ample storage capacity, this dam provides a valuable oasis for water and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and enjoy. However, the lack of comprehensive inspection and emergency planning underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and sustainability of this important water resource.
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 Sweet Water -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bassett Creek At Us Highway 43 Nr Thomasville | 25 cfs | → |
| Satilpa Creek Near Coffeeville Al | 421 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Coffeeville L&D Nr Coffeeville | 49,400 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Demopolis L&D Near Coatopa | 28,600 cfs | → |
| Alabama River At Claiborne L&D Near Monroeville | 17,500 cfs | → |
| Sucarnoochee River At Livingston Al | 1,940 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sweet Water.
Track Sweet Water 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 Sweet Water
Where does the data for Sweet Water 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 Sweet Water.