Stephens dam
Stephens
Stephens, located in Pleasant Hill, Alabama, is a private dam built in 1967 on the TR Big Wills Creek river. With a primary purpose of fire protection and stock, this earth dam also serves as a small fish pond and recreation area. Standing at a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a length of 440 feet, Stephens has a storage capacity of 71 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 636 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, Stephens has not been rated for condition assessment. The dam, managed by a private owner, does not fall under state regulation or inspection. Although it has not undergone recent inspections or maintenance, its location within Congressional District 04, Alabama, adds to the intrigue of its historical and environmental significance.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Stephens presents an opportunity to explore the integration of dams into local ecosystems and communities. As an unregulated structure, its impact on water storage and flood control in the area may offer valuable insights into the broader context of water resource management and climate resilience. Further research and assessment of Stephens could shed light on the role of privately-owned dams in shaping water landscapes and the challenges they face in terms of sustainability and safety.
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 Stephens -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 136 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Near Geraldine Al | 66 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Blue Pond Al | 146 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 118 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne | 45 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stephens.
Boat launches
- Broad Street Gadsden
- Lonz Street 206, Gadsden
- Cherokee County 520, Centre
- Riverview Drive St. Clair County
- Al 227 Guntersville
- Aubrey Carr Scenic Drive Guntersville
Campgrounds
- Noccalula Falls Campground
- Lake Guntersville State Park
- Town Creek Campground
- Bucks Pocket State Park
- Marshall County Park
- Georgia Mountain Rv Resort
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 Stephens 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 Stephens
Where does the data for Stephens 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 Stephens.