Sam Sawyer Lake dam
Sam Sawyer Lake
Sam Sawyer Lake, also known as Lake Lorene, is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Coffee County, Alabama. Built in 1957 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 700 feet. With a storage capacity of 173 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.51 square miles, the lake serves as a recreational spot and a habitat for various wildlife species.
Despite its low hazard potential, Sam Sawyer Lake has a moderate risk assessment score of 3. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled with a width of 60 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 807 cubic feet per second. Although the condition of the dam is currently not rated, there have been no reported incidents or inspections to date.
With its picturesque location and important role in supporting local wildlife, Sam Sawyer Lake is a valuable resource for both water enthusiasts and climate conservationists. Its tranquil waters and surrounding natural beauty make it a popular spot for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation, contributing to the overall ecological health of the region.
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 Sam Sawyer Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Double Bridges Creek Nr Enterprise | 10 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River At Brantley Al | 342 cfs | → |
| Pea River Near Samson Al | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Patsaliga Creek Near Brantley Al | 281 cfs | → |
| Pea River Near Ariton Al | 446 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River Bel Pt A Dam Nr River Falls | 1,360 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sam Sawyer Lake.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Sam Sawyer Lake 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 Sam Sawyer Lake
Where does the data for Sam Sawyer Lake 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 Sam Sawyer Lake.