Valley View Lake Dam dam
Valley View Lake Dam
Valley View Lake Dam, located in Shelby, Alabama, was completed in 1959 and serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This private earth dam stands at a structural height of 18 feet and a hydraulic height of 15 feet, with a length of 300 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet, the dam is a significant feature in the area, providing opportunities for outdoor activities and water recreation.
The dam, situated on TR.BEAR CREEK, falls under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District of Alabama and is not regulated by the state. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and emergency action plans are yet to be prepared. Valley View Lake Dam, in Congressional District 06, Alabama, offers a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy nature, with its pristine waters and surrounding landscapes. As a crucial resource for the community, efforts to ensure its safety and maintenance will be vital for the continued enjoyment of this recreational area.
With its rich history dating back to the late 1950s, Valley View Lake Dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and the importance of water resource management. As water levels fluctuate and climate patterns evolve, the dam remains a key feature in the region, providing not only recreational opportunities but also serving as a potential source of irrigation and flood control. For water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike, Valley View Lake Dam presents a unique opportunity to appreciate the intersection of human infrastructure with natural resources, highlighting the delicate balance required to sustainably manage water systems in a changing environment.
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 Valley View 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 | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River At Cah Bea Rd Nr Cahaba Hts Al | 15 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley View Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Kelly Creek Boat Landing, Vincent
- Bells Lane St. Clair County
- Highlands Drive Trussville
- Old Mill Trail 7098, Clay
- Hollywood Boulevard 449, Childersburg
- Lake In The Woods Road Jefferson County
Track Valley View 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 Valley View Lake Dam
Where does the data for Valley View 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 Valley View Lake Dam.