Frank Cothran dam
Frank Cothran
Frank Cothran is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Dallas, Alabama, near Tilden. Built in 1969 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth dam stands at 18 feet high and stretches 350 feet long, with a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and recreation, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Situated on the TR-Pine Barren Creek in the Mobile District, Frank Cothran is not regulated by the state and does not require permitting or inspections. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 56 feet and can discharge up to 800 cubic feet per second. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam meets guidelines for emergency action plans and risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Frank Cothran offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human intervention and natural ecosystems. As a privately owned structure, its impact on the environment and surrounding wildlife is worth studying, especially in the context of changing climate patterns and increasing water scarcity. The dam's history, design, and function provide valuable insights into sustainable water management practices and the importance of balancing human needs with ecological preservation in a changing world.
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 Frank Cothran -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Barren Creek Near Snow Hill | 30 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Marion Junction Al | 769 cfs | → |
| Bassett Creek At Us Highway 43 Nr Thomasville | 2 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Creek At Jones Al | 105 cfs | → |
| Alabama River At Claiborne L&D Near Monroeville | 6,950 cfs | → |
| Murder Creek Near Evergreen Al | 85 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frank Cothran.
Boat launches
- Roland Cooper Boat Ramp
- Wilcox County
- Chilatchee Park Road Wilcox County
- Gees Bend Park Wilcox County
- Prairie Creek Road Lowndes County
Campgrounds
- Roland Cooper State Park
- Elm Bluff - William Dannelly Reservoir
- Chilatchee Creek
- East Bank/Millers Ferry
- Six Mile Creek
- Bells Landing
Fishing spots
Track Frank Cothran 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 Frank Cothran
Where does the data for Frank Cothran 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 Frank Cothran.