Oscar Cobb dam
Oscar Cobb
Oscar Cobb, located in Union Town, Alabama, is a privately owned Earth dam designed by USDA NRCS in 1968 for the primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans a length of 500 feet, with a storage capacity of 146 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Cottonwood Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Oscar Cobb has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 1978. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet and a maximum discharge of 330 cubic feet per second. While the dam has not undergone any modifications over the years, it presents an opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore its ecological significance as a habitat for fish and wildlife in the region.
With its historical significance and potential for environmental conservation, Oscar Cobb serves as a valuable resource for studying the intersection of water management and biodiversity conservation in Alabama. As efforts continue to monitor and assess the dam's condition and risk factors, there is a growing need for sustainable management practices to ensure the longevity of this vital ecosystem for future generations.
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 Oscar Cobb -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cahaba River Near Marion Junction Al | 698 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Demopolis L&D Near Coatopa | 2,730 cfs | → |
| Black Warrior River At Selden L & D Near Eutaw | 263 cfs | → |
| Elliotts Creek At Moundville Al | 8 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Creek At Jones Al | 103 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Centreville Al | 318 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oscar Cobb.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Oscar Cobb 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 Oscar Cobb
Where does the data for Oscar Cobb 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 Oscar Cobb.