Buddy Phillips dam
Buddy Phillips
Buddy Phillips, also known as Phillips Lake, is a privately owned Earth dam located in Sawyerville, Alabama. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this dam was completed in 1970 and serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a height of 23 feet and a length of 700 feet, Buddy Phillips has a storage capacity of 568 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.47 square miles. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 100 feet, and a maximum discharge of 630 cfs.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and not currently rated for its condition, Buddy Phillips faces moderate risk due to its location and characteristics. The dam is situated on TR-Hines Creek in Hale County, Alabama, and is under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. While the dam has not been inspected since October 1978, it is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor its risk assessment and management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure for years to come.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Buddy Phillips presents a unique case study in private dam ownership and conservation. With its focus on fish and wildlife habitat, as well as the potential risks associated with its location and design, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and maintenance in the face of changing environmental conditions. Monitoring and assessing the risk factors involved with Buddy Phillips can provide valuable insights for future dam projects and climate adaptation strategies in the region.
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 Buddy Phillips -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Warrior River At Selden L & D Near Eutaw | 3,280 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Demopolis L&D Near Coatopa | 6,960 cfs | → |
| Elliotts Creek At Moundville Al | 13 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Gainesville L&D Nr Gainesville Al | 3,390 cfs | → |
| Sucarnoochee River At Livingston Al | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Cribbs Mill Creek At Ww Plant At Tuscaloosa | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buddy Phillips.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Buddy Phillips 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 Buddy Phillips
Where does the data for Buddy Phillips 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 Buddy Phillips.