Gilbert dam
Gilbert
Located in DeKalb County, Alabama, the Gilbert dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and engineering prowess. Completed in 1963, this private-owned structure on Horsehead Creek serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for nature enthusiasts and water adventurers alike. With a modest height of 20 feet and a length of 535 feet, the Gilbert dam provides a storage capacity of 158 acre-feet, ensuring a steady water supply for the surrounding area.
Despite its low hazard potential and the lack of recent condition assessments, the Gilbert dam continues to be a vital part of the local landscape. Its earth dam type and proximity to the city of Central make it a key feature in the region's water resource management strategy. While its spillway type and emergency preparedness measures remain unspecified, the Gilbert dam remains an essential piece of infrastructure that warrants further exploration and appreciation by water resource and climate enthusiasts.
As part of the Mobile District in Alabama, the Gilbert dam stands as a beacon of human interaction with the natural environment. Its association with Congressional District 04 and Representative Robert B. Aderholt showcases the interconnectedness of water resource management with political representation. With its unique design and historical significance, the Gilbert dam invites visitors to ponder the delicate balance between human needs and environmental preservation in the face of climate change and evolving water resource challenges.
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 Gilbert -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne | 39 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Near Geraldine Al | 57 cfs | → |
| Lookout Creek Near New England | 88 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Blue Pond Al | 113 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River At Summerville | 132 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al | 230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gilbert.
Boat launches
- County Road 213 355, Hollywood
- County Road 613 Dekalb County
- Comer Bridge Public Boat Ramp
- County Park Road 2300-2398, Scottsboro
- Stevenson City Park Boat Ramp
- Dekalb County
Campgrounds
- Dekalb County Public Lake
- Camp Skyline Ranch
- De Soto State Park
- Stevenson Municipal Park - Guntersville Reservoir
- Jackson County Park
- Cloudland Canyon State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
Track Gilbert 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 Gilbert
Where does the data for Gilbert 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 Gilbert.