Lightfoot Dam dam
Lightfoot Dam
Lightfoot Dam, located in East Midway, Alabama, along the TR-Mountain Creek, was completed in 1970 with a primary purpose of recreation. The earth dam has a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a structural height of 23 feet, with a length of 525 feet. It has a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 53 acre-feet. The dam is under private ownership and is not regulated or inspected by the state.
Despite its recreational focus, Lightfoot Dam is deemed to have a significant hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and there are no inundation maps prepared for emergency management. The dam is not associated with the US Army Corps of Engineers and does not have a designated risk assessment or management plan. Overall, the status of Lightfoot Dam suggests a need for increased attention to its safety and emergency preparedness measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the maintenance and management of dams, Lightfoot Dam presents a unique case study in private ownership and limited state oversight. With its significant hazard potential and lack of essential emergency protocols, the future of Lightfoot Dam raises questions about the importance of proactive risk assessment and management in ensuring the safety of water infrastructure. As efforts to address climate change continue to impact water resources, the need for comprehensive evaluation and maintenance of dams like Lightfoot Dam becomes increasingly crucial in safeguarding communities and the 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 Lightfoot Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchet Creek Below Rockford Al | 133 cfs | → |
| Alabama River Near Montgomery | 4,700 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Mont.-Mont. Water Works | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Creek At Jones Al | 103 cfs | → |
| Catoma Creek Near Montgomery Al | 6 cfs | → |
| Coosa River At Childersburg Al | 2,960 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lightfoot Dam.
Track Lightfoot 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 Lightfoot Dam
Where does the data for Lightfoot 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 Lightfoot Dam.