Cunningham dam
Cunningham
Cunningham is a privately owned Earth dam located in Chambers, Alabama, specifically in the city of Piedmont Heights. Built in 1957, this dam on the TR West Point Lake serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 55 acre-feet. With a hydraulic height of 21 feet and a structural height of 24 feet, Cunningham spans 420 feet in length and has a maximum discharge of 255 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Cunningham has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam does not fall under state jurisdiction and is not subject to state regulation, inspection, or enforcement. It is also not part of any federal agency ownership or funding programs. The dam does not have an emergency action plan in place, and there are no inundation maps or risk assessments prepared for the area surrounding the dam.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Cunningham to be an interesting structure due to its historical significance and its role in providing recreational opportunities in the region. The dam's location on TR West Point Lake offers a picturesque setting for outdoor activities and serves as a popular spot for visitors to enjoy the surrounding natural environment. While Cunningham may not be subject to extensive regulatory oversight, its presence highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both safety and sustainability in water resource management.
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 Cunningham -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River At West Point | 866 cfs | → |
| Yellowjacket Cr At Hammett Rd Blw Hogansville | 29 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Us 27 | 1,380 cfs | → |
| New River At Ga 100 | 49 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River At Wadley Al | 983 cfs | → |
| Hillabahatchee Creek At Thaxton Rd | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cunningham.
Boat launches
- Abbottsford Road Troup County
- Pyne Road Park Mega Ramp
- County Road 390 Chambers County
- Westpoint Road West Point
- Dam Road Troup County
- Mooty Bridge Road Lagrange
Campgrounds
Track Cunningham 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 Cunningham
Where does the data for Cunningham 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 Cunningham.