Dr. Patton S Lake dam
Dr. Patton S Lake
Dr. Patton S Lake, located in Blount, Alabama, is a private fish and wildlife pond designed by USDA NRCS in 1978. The earth dam stands at 30 feet high and stretches 560 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 433 acre-feet. The reservoir covers 23 acres and serves as a habitat for various wildlife species, making it a popular spot for recreational activities in the area.
Despite being privately owned, Dr. Patton S Lake does not fall under state jurisdiction or regulation, with no permitting, inspection, enforcement, or state agency involvement. The dam is classified as low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating. The spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 51 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 618 cubic feet per second. While the condition assessment is not rated, the dam has not been inspected since 1980, raising some concerns about its current state and safety measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dr. Patton S Lake presents an interesting case study of a privately owned dam serving multiple purposes like fish and wildlife habitat conservation and recreation. The lack of recent inspections and regulatory oversight highlights the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety and sustainability of such water infrastructure. With its scenic location and potential ecological significance, this reservoir is a valuable resource worth further exploration and study in the context of water management and conservation efforts.
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. Patton S Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 7 cfs | → |
| Locust Fork Near Cleveland | 132 cfs | → |
| Blue Springs Creek Near Blountsville | 6 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Fork Near Garden City | 162 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 38 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek At Sewage Plant Near Pinson Al | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dr. Patton S Lake.
Boat launches
- Boat Landing Road 4101, Blount County
- Sugarland Lake Boat Launch
- Lakeshore Drive 128, Highland Lake
- Inland Lake Blount County
- Echo Lake Lane 7501, Jefferson County
- Lake In The Woods Road Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Dr. Patton S Lake 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. Patton S Lake
Where does the data for Dr. Patton S Lake 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. Patton S Lake.