Buttahatchee Dam dam
Buttahatchee Dam
Buttahatchee Dam, also known as Lake Buttahatchee Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Marion, Alabama. Completed in 1960, this dam on the Buttahatchee River serves primarily for recreation purposes, providing a serene and picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts. With a hydraulic height of 19 feet and a structural height of 50 feet, it offers a maximum storage capacity of 114 acre-feet for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Buttahatchee Dam has a significant hazard potential, though its condition assessment remains unrated. Despite being a non-federal structure, the dam has not been subject to state regulation or inspection, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and assessment to ensure its safety and reliability. While the dam does not currently have an Emergency Action Plan in place, ongoing efforts to assess risk and implement management measures are crucial for safeguarding surrounding communities and the local environment.
As a key feature along the Buttahatchee River, Buttahatchee Dam plays a vital role in the recreational landscape of the region. With a length of 400 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 3000 cubic feet per second, this dam offers both a practical water management solution and a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. While its condition and risk assessment are yet to be fully evaluated, efforts to enhance safety measures and emergency preparedness will be essential in maintaining the dam's integrity and protecting the surrounding area from potential hazards.
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 Buttahatchee Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al | 142 cfs | → |
| Clear C At New Hope Church Nr Poplar Springs | 55 cfs | → |
| Sipsey Fork Near Grayson Al | 40 cfs | → |
| Blackwater Creek Near Manchester Al | 91 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Red Bay | 80 cfs | → |
| Bull Mountain Creek At Tremont | 63 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buttahatchee Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 79 Bear Creek
- County Road 10 1522, Franklin County
- Glades Road Winston County
- County Road 27 Franklin County
- Massey Branch Boat Launch
- Piney Point Road Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Wolf Pen Hunters Camp
- Claymore Camp #1
- Corinth Recreation Area
- Williams Hollow Campground
- Mcdougle Camp
- Clear Creek Recreation Area
Track Buttahatchee 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 Buttahatchee Dam
Where does the data for Buttahatchee 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 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 Buttahatchee Dam.