Ruell Snead Dam No. 1 dam
Ruell Snead Dam No. 1
Ruell Snead Dam No. 1, located in Mt. Carmel Church, Alabama, was completed in 1958 and is owned by a private entity. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 480 cubic feet per second. It stands at a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 18 feet, with a length of 250 feet.
This earth dam on TR-Kenchelow Creek is deemed to have a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. Despite being privately owned, the dam does not fall under any state jurisdiction or regulatory agency oversight. With no associated structures, the dam has not been modified over the years, and there are no emergency action plans or risk management measures in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ruell Snead Dam No. 1 offers a glimpse into the diverse landscape of dam infrastructure in Alabama. The dam's focus on recreation highlights the importance of balancing water management for both practical and leisure purposes. Its low hazard potential signifies a relatively stable structure, albeit without a recent condition assessment. As a privately owned entity, the dam's operations and maintenance are solely the responsibility of its owners, underscoring the need for proactive stewardship in safeguarding our water resources.
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 Ruell Snead Dam No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Locust Fork Near Cleveland | 86 cfs | → |
| Blue Springs Creek Near Blountsville | 6 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 94 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 9 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 35 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Fork Near Garden City | 108 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ruell Snead Dam No. 1.
Boat launches
- Warrenton Road 3408, Guntersville
- Sugarland Lake Boat Launch
- Lakeshore Drive 128, Highland Lake
- Highway 69 3374, Guntersville
- U.S. 431 18976, Guntersville
- Al 227 Guntersville
Campgrounds
- Georgia Mountain Rv Resort
- Noccalula Falls Campground
- Marshall County Park
- Lake Guntersville State Park
- Town Creek Campground
- Bucks Pocket State Park
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
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
Track Ruell Snead Dam No. 1 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 Ruell Snead Dam No. 1
Where does the data for Ruell Snead Dam No. 1 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 Ruell Snead Dam No. 1.