Pless Lake Dam dam
Pless Lake Dam
Pless Lake Dam, also known as Mountain View Lake Dam, is a private recreational structure located in Shelby, Alabama. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height of 27 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Turkey Bear Creek and is managed by private owners for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
Despite being privately owned, Pless Lake Dam holds significant hazard potential, classified as "Significant" in terms of risk assessment. The condition of the dam is currently marked as "Not Rated," and there is no detailed information available on the dam's maintenance and emergency preparedness measures. With its close proximity to VANDIVER SOUTH and the Mobile District, Pless Lake Dam serves as an essential water resource for the local community and requires proper monitoring and management to ensure its safety and functionality for years to come.
As a vital element in the water infrastructure of the region, Pless Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and regulating water flow along Turkey Bear Creek. While its current condition assessment may be lacking, the dam's historical significance and environmental impact underscore the importance of continued oversight and maintenance. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pless Lake Dam serves as both a recreational haven and a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Pless Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cahaba River Below Leeds | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River Nr Jefferson Park | 13 cfs | → |
| Kelly Creek Near Vincent Al | 45 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River At Cah Bea Rd Nr Cahaba Hts Al | 15 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al | 56 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pless Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Kelly Creek Boat Landing, Vincent
- Bells Lane St. Clair County
- Highlands Drive Trussville
- Hollywood Boulevard 449, Childersburg
- Old Mill Trail 7098, Clay
- Terrace Drive Pelham
Track Pless 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 Pless Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pless 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 Significant 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 Pless Lake Dam.