Dr Vincent Best Dam dam
Dr Vincent Best Dam
Dr. Vincent Best Dam, located in Sims Chapel, Alabama, was completed in 1962 and is primarily used for recreation purposes. The earth dam has a hydraulic height of 21 feet and a structural height of 24 feet, with a length of 566 feet. It has a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 630 cubic feet per second. Despite being privately owned, the dam is not regulated by the state and has a low hazard potential, with a condition assessment of "Not Rated".
The dam, situated on TR-Bates Creek offstream, falls under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is not federally owned or funded and has not been subject to inspections or enforcement by federal agencies. The dam does not have associated structures or locks, making it a simple yet important structure for water resource management in the area. While it may not have a significant impact on the surrounding drainage area, the dam provides essential recreational opportunities for the local community.
Overall, Dr. Vincent Best Dam serves as a valuable resource for the residents of Washington County, Alabama, offering a peaceful retreat for outdoor activities and water-based recreation. Its low hazard potential and unregulated status highlight the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and longevity of this essential water infrastructure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to appreciate and support the role of dams like Dr. Vincent Best in providing both recreational enjoyment and environmental benefits to 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 Dr Vincent Best Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasawhay River At Leakesville | 3,230 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At County Rd 63 Near Wilmer | 24 cfs | → |
| Chickasaw Creek Near Kushla Al | 102 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek Near Fairview | 8 cfs | → |
| Escatawpa River Near Agricola Ms | 420 cfs | → |
| Pascagoula River At Merrill | 8,720 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dr Vincent Best Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lakeview Rv City Park
- Citronelle Lakeview Rv Park
- Spoonbill Sandbar Campsite
- Two Rivers Point Campsite
- Canal Island Platform
- Dead Lake Platform
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- Begins Approximately 1 River Mile Upstream From The U.S. Highway 98 Bridge To The Jackson County Route 614 Bridge
- The Jackson County Route 614 Bridge To Ends Approximately 2 River Miles From The Southern Terminus Of The Study Area
Track Dr Vincent Best 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 Dr Vincent Best Dam
Where does the data for Dr Vincent Best 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 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 Dr Vincent Best Dam.