Purdy Lake Dam dam
Purdy Lake Dam
Purdy Lake Dam, located in the Lesters Chapel Community of Shelby County, Alabama, was completed in 1968 by the USDA NRCS. This private earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and stretches 175 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 103 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Purdy Lake Dam is to provide a fish and wildlife pond, as well as recreational opportunities for the community.
Despite its low hazard potential, Purdy Lake Dam has a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam has not been inspected since August 1979 and is currently not rated for its condition. While it does not have a state regulatory agency overseeing its operations, the dam serves as an important resource for the conservation of fish and wildlife in the area. With a spillway width of 60 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 4800 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow along the Yellowleaf Creek.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Purdy Lake Dam to be a fascinating structure, blending engineering with environmental conservation efforts. As a key feature in the landscape of the Lesters Chapel Community, the dam provides a unique habitat for fish and wildlife while offering recreational benefits to the local residents. It serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and the preservation of natural ecosystems, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change.
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 Purdy Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cahaba River Near Cahaba Heights Al | 18 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Hoover | 28 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River At Cah Bea Rd Nr Cahaba Hts Al | 15 cfs | → |
| Cahaba Valley Creek At Cross Cr Rd At Pelham | 14 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Acton Al | 22 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Purdy Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Terrace Drive Pelham
- Beeswax Park Road 2-750, Columbiana
- Hollywood Boulevard 449, Childersburg
- Kelly Creek Boat Landing, Vincent
- County Road 400 848, Shelby
- Bells Lane St. Clair County
Campgrounds
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Hoover Rv Park
- Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
- Campground #2
- Campground #1
- Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park
Fishing spots
Track Purdy Lake 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 Purdy Lake Dam
Where does the data for Purdy Lake 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 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 Purdy Lake Dam.