Childress Dam dam
Childress Dam
Childress Dam, also known as Childress Lake, is a private earth dam located in Baldwin County, Alabama. Built in 1981 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond for recreational purposes. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 1000 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 142 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.25 square miles.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 54 feet, and it has a low hazard potential rating. Although the condition assessment is currently not rated, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate. The dam's purpose includes fire protection, stock, small fish pond, irrigation, and recreation. It is situated on the TR-Blackwater River and falls under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Childress Dam provides a vital resource for the surrounding area, offering a diverse range of benefits from fish and wildlife habitat to recreational opportunities. Its construction by the USDA NRCS underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in enhancing environmental conservation and supporting community resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. As a key feature in the local landscape, the dam plays a crucial role in promoting the well-being of both wildlife and residents in the region.
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 Childress Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish River Near Silver Hill Al | 70 cfs | → |
| Styx River Near Elsanor | 345 cfs | → |
| Magnolia River At Us 98 Near Foley | 24 cfs | → |
| Perdido River At Barrineau Park | 488 cfs | → |
| Elevenmile Creek Near Pensacola | 23 cfs | → |
| Escambia River Nr Molino | 6,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Childress Dam.
Boat launches
See all →
Campgrounds
See all →
Fishing spots
See all →
River runs
See all →
About Childress Dam
Where does the data for Childress 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 below 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.
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.