Farr dam
Farr
Located in St. Clair County, Alabama, Farr Lake, also known as Farr, is a private fish and wildlife pond designed by the USDA NRCS in 1972. With a dam height of 15 feet and a length of 1650 feet, this Earth dam serves the primary purpose of providing habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as recreational activities. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by private owners, Farr Lake has a storage capacity of 94 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.31 square miles. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 641 cubic feet per second. Despite not being regulated or inspected by the state, Farr Lake remains a vital water resource in the region, contributing to the conservation of natural habitats and offering recreational opportunities for the local community.
With its scenic location on the TR North Fork river, Farr Lake provides an important ecosystem service by supporting diverse wildlife and vegetation. Although its condition is currently not rated, the dam continues to serve as a valuable asset for both wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation enthusiasts in the area. As climate change impacts water resources, the management and preservation of sites like Farr Lake will be crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring sustainable water usage in the future.
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 Farr -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 115 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 25 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al | 407 cfs | → |
| Locust Fork Near Cleveland | 415 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 22 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 117 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Farr.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive 128, Highland Lake
- Riverview Drive St. Clair County
- Sugarland Lake Boat Launch
- Woods Bend Road 3100, Ragland
- St. Clair County
- Boat Landing Road 4101, Blount County
Fishing spots
Track Farr 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 Farr
Where does the data for Farr 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.