Kimball Lake dam
Kimball Lake
Kimball Lake, located in Rainbow City West, Alabama, is a privately owned reservoir with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1951, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a length of 340 feet, providing a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. The lake is situated on the TR-Hopton Creek and is within the jurisdiction of Etowah County in Alabama.
Despite its recreational benefits, Kimball Lake has a high hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition assessment. While the dam has not been assessed for its current state, the lake poses a potential risk in case of emergencies. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, and the last inspection date is unknown, raising concerns about its safety and readiness for any unforeseen events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kimball Lake offers an interesting case study in dam management and safety. With its high hazard potential and lack of recent inspections and condition assessments, the lake serves as a reminder of the importance of regular monitoring, maintenance, and emergency preparedness for dam structures, especially in the face of changing environmental conditions and potential risks associated with 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 Kimball Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 94 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 35 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 9 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 111 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al | 242 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek Near Boiling Spring | 132 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kimball Lake.
Boat launches
- Riverview Drive St. Clair County
- Broad Street Gadsden
- Lonz Street 206, Gadsden
- St. Clair County
- Ohatchee
- Woods Bend Road 3100, Ragland
Campgrounds
- Noccalula Falls Campground
- Anniston Army Depot Rv Military
- Pine Glen
- Pine Glen Recreation Area
- Coleman Lake Recreation Area
- Coleman Lake Rec Area
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 Kimball Lake 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 Kimball Lake
Where does the data for Kimball Lake 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 High 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 Kimball Lake.