Lake Duke Dam Lower dam
Lake Duke Dam Lower
Lake Duke Dam Lower, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1977, this dam stands at a structural height of 26 feet and has a hydraulic height of 25 feet. It has a storage capacity of 141 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 95 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Wright Branch, a tributary of the Black Warrior River, and is managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its recreational focus, Lake Duke Dam Lower has a significant hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. Emergency action plans and risk assessment measures are not currently in place, raising concerns about the safety and management of this dam in case of emergencies. The dam has not been inspected recently, and there is limited information available on its regulatory oversight and enforcement.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the unique characteristics and potential risks associated with Lake Duke Dam Lower make it a fascinating case study in dam management and safety. With its location in a prominent congressional district and its significance for the local community, there is a need for increased attention to the monitoring and maintenance of this dam to ensure the safety of both the surrounding environment and the residents who rely on it for recreation and water supply.
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 Lake Duke Dam Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cribbs Mill Creek At Ww Plant At Tuscaloosa | 64 cfs | → |
| Elliotts Creek At Moundville Al | 8 cfs | → |
| Black Warrior River At Northport Al | 811 cfs | → |
| Sipsey River Nr Elrod | 151 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Tuscaloosa | 1 cfs | → |
| Binion Creek Below Gin Creek Near Samantha Al | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Duke Dam Lower.
Boat launches
- 7th Avenue Northeast 401-599, Tuscaloosa
- Rock Quarry Drive Tuscaloosa
- Deerlick Road Tuscaloosa County
- County Road 109 13399, Tuscaloosa County
- Lock 15 Road 12701, Tuscaloosa County
- Binion Creek Landing Park
Campgrounds
- Moundville Archaeological Park Campground
- Holt Lake
- Deerlick
- Payne Lake West Side
- Payne Lake Recreation Area
- Lake Payne Westside Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Duke Dam Lower 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 Lake Duke Dam Lower
Where does the data for Lake Duke Dam Lower 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 Lake Duke Dam Lower.