Yahou dam
Yahou
Yahou, also known as Yahou Lake, is a federal-owned water resource located in Calhoun, Alabama. Built in 1967, this Earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and stands at a hydraulic height of 34 feet, with a structural height of 41 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 259 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 15 acres, drawing water from the Remount Creek in Fort McClellan.
Despite its small size, Yahou poses a potential hazard classified as high, with a moderate risk assessment of 3. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 25 feet, and while it has not been rated for its condition, it has not been inspected in recent years. The surrounding area, with a drainage area of 380 acres, may be at risk in case of a breach or structural failure, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring for this water resource.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate change will find Yahou an intriguing case study, given its unique features and potential risks. With its remote location in a federal-owned property and its proximity to a river, Yahou serves as a valuable example of the importance of proper management and assessment of dams to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the preservation of natural resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Yahou -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Choccolocco Creek Near Boiling Spring | 379 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Heflin | 453 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al | 445 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Below Tallapoosa | 187 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 233 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yahou.
Boat launches
- Ohatchee
- Coleman Boat Ramp Road Cleburne County
- St. Clair County
- Woods Bend Road 3100, Ragland
- County Road 88 Randolph County
- Al 77 Lincoln
Campgrounds
- Anniston Army Depot Rv Military
- Pine Glen
- Pine Glen Recreation Area
- Big Oak Gap Hunter Camp
- Cheaha State Park
- Coleman Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Yahou 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 Yahou
Where does the data for Yahou 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 High 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 Yahou.