Carpenter dam
Carpenter
Carpenter is a private recreational dam located in Randolph, Alabama, near the city of Wedowee. Built in 1973, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet. It serves the primary purpose of recreation, offering a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2000 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, Carpenter has not been rated for its current condition and lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or inundation maps.
Managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Carpenter Dam does not fall under state jurisdiction and is not regulated by any state agency. With no associated structures or locks, this dam provides a serene environment for recreational activities along the TR Wedowee Creek. Although it has not been inspected recently and its condition remains unknown, Carpenter continues to offer a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
While Carpenter Dam may not be the largest or most heavily regulated structure, its significance lies in its contribution to the recreational landscape of Randolph County, Alabama. As a privately owned facility, it offers a safe and enjoyable space for outdoor activities along the creek, with potential for further enhancement in terms of safety measures and risk management. For those interested in water resources and climate issues, Carpenter provides a unique case study in the intersection of private ownership, recreational use, and dam safety considerations.
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 Carpenter -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tallapoosa River Near Newell Al | 121 cfs | → |
| Hillabahatchee Creek At Thaxton Rd | 6 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River At Wadley Al | 204 cfs | → |
| Little Tallapoosa River Below Bowdon | 40 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Us 27 | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Heflin | 142 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carpenter.
Boat launches
- Us 431 Wedowee
- Heard Street Randolph County
- Key Pads Street Randolph County
- Wadeeta Drive Randolph County
- Watkins Circle Randolph County
Campgrounds
- Brush Creek County Park
- Cheaha State Park
- Turnipseed Campground
- Turnipseed Hunter Camp
- Whitetail Ridge
- John Tanner State Park
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Carpenter 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 Carpenter
Where does the data for Carpenter 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 Carpenter.