Murphy dam
Murphy
Murphy is a private recreational dam located in Lee County, Alabama, near the TR-Watula Creek. Built in 1948, this earth dam stands at 28 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a length of 300 feet. With a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, Murphy serves primarily for recreational purposes and has a low hazard potential rating.
Managed by a private owner, this dam has not been rated for its condition assessment and lacks emergency action plans as well as risk management measures. Despite being under the jurisdiction of the state with no federal involvement, Murphy provides a serene recreational spot within 10 miles of its location. However, with a maximum discharge capacity of 127 cubic feet per second, the dam poses a potential risk that requires further assessment and mitigation strategies.
Even though Murphy presents a low hazard potential, its lack of detailed risk assessment and emergency preparedness raises concerns for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With the potential for increased extreme weather events due to climate change, it is crucial for the dam's owners to develop comprehensive plans to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding area in case of emergencies. Further attention and action are needed to address the gaps in Murphy's risk management and emergency response protocols to protect both the dam and the local 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 Murphy -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chewacla Creek At Chewacla State Park Nr Auburn | 79 cfs | → |
| Sougahatchee Creek At Co Rd 188 Nr Loachapoka | 23 cfs | → |
| Uphapee Creek Near Tuskegee Al | 72 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Us 280 | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Uchee Creek Near Fort Mitchell | 118 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At West Point | 856 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Murphy.
Boat launches
- Mcculloh Road 9001-9499, Valley
- West 7th Street 199, West Point
- Yates Lake Ramp
- Griffith Lane Tallassee
- Dam Road Troup County
- County Road 390 Chambers County
Campgrounds
Track Murphy 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 Murphy
Where does the data for Murphy 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 Murphy.