Lake Catoma Dam dam
Lake Catoma Dam
Lake Catoma Dam, located in Cullman, Alabama, was completed in 1966 and serves as a vital water resource for the community. The dam, primarily designed for recreational purposes, stands at a structural height of 100 feet with a hydraulic height of 90 feet. It is classified as a Rockfill dam and has a storage capacity of 21,400 acre-feet, making it a crucial water supply source for the area.
With Eight Mile Creek as its primary river or stream, Lake Catoma Dam not only provides water storage but also offers recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, indicating the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 35,360 cubic feet per second, highlighting its importance in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by the local government, Lake Catoma Dam is a significant infrastructure project in Alabama's water resource management system. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the dam plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable water supply for the community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate the engineering and management efforts behind Lake Catoma Dam, which underscores the importance of effective water resource planning and infrastructure development in the face of changing environmental 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 Lake Catoma Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Fork Near Garden City | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Blue Springs Creek Near Blountsville | 17 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek Near Falkville Al | 232 cfs | → |
| Locust Fork Near Cleveland | 589 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Fork Near Arkadelphia | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Catoma Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 311 Cullman County
- Lick Creek Boat Ramp
- Smith Lake Dam Road 8067-8697, Jasper
- Bluff City Boat Ramp Access Road Morgan County
- Sharp Ford Road Morgan County
- Warrenton Road 3408, Guntersville
Campgrounds
- Rickwood Caverns State Park
- Georgia Mountain Rv Resort
- Brushy Lake Recreation Area
- Brushy Lake Recreational Area Campground
- Point Mallard City Campground
- Easter Posey Mwr Military - Redstone Arsenal
Fishing spots
Track Lake Catoma 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 Lake Catoma Dam
Where does the data for Lake Catoma 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 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 Lake Catoma Dam.