Cold Creek dam
Cold Creek
Cold Creek is a vital water supply source in Mobile, Alabama, serving the local community of SALCO. Built in 1968 by the local government, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 18 feet. With a capacity of storing 1000 acre-feet of water, Cold Creek plays a crucial role in ensuring a stable water supply for the area, especially during times of peak demand.
Managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Creek has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. Despite not being regulated by the state, the dam is inspected at regular intervals to ensure its safety and reliability. With a maximum discharge capacity of 11500 cubic feet per second, Cold Creek is well-equipped to handle varying water flow conditions and maintain a steady water supply for the region.
While Cold Creek does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place, its overall risk assessment and management measures remain unspecified. As a key player in the water resource infrastructure of Mobile County, Alabama, Cold Creek stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam management and maintenance in ensuring a sustainable water supply for the community.
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 Cold Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw Creek Near Kushla Al | 121 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At County Rd 63 Near Wilmer | 26 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Fairview | 8 cfs | → |
| Hamilton Creek At Snow Road Near Semmes | 12 cfs | → |
| Escatawpa River Near Agricola Ms | 420 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Bratt | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cold Creek.
Boat launches
- State Landing Road 2551, Mount Vernon
- Ruben Avenue 498, Saraland
- Cliffs Landing Road 7635, Bay Minette
- Battleship Parkway 1267-1989, Spanish Fort
- River Road 786, Mcintosh
- Battleship Parkway 1675, Spanish Fort
Campgrounds
- Mobile County Marina
- Two Rivers Point Campsite
- Jug Lake Platform
- Dead Lake Platform
- Canal Island Platform
- Chickasabogue Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Approximately 1 River Mile Upstream From The U.S. Highway 98 Bridge To The Jackson County Route 614 Bridge
- Begins Approximately 2 River Miles Downstream From The Yellowhouse Branch Confluence With The Escatawpa River Near The Town Of Deer Park, Alabama To Ends Approximately 1 River Mile Upstream From The U.S. Highway 98 Bridge
- The Confluence With Scarsborough Creek To The Confluence With The Escatawpa River
- The Jackson County Route 614 Bridge To Ends Approximately 2 River Miles From The Southern Terminus Of The Study Area
Track Cold Creek 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 Cold Creek
Where does the data for Cold Creek 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 Low 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 Cold Creek.