Carl Wittichen dam
Carl Wittichen
Carl Wittichen is a private dam located in Ashville, Alabama, on Canoe Creek. Built in 1984 by the USDA NRCS, this 17-foot high earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 312 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Carl Wittichen is a notable structure in St. Clair County, Alabama, managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its private ownership, Carl Wittichen plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community while also contributing to water resource management in the area. With a spillway width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge of 873 cubic feet per second, this dam ensures the safety and stability of the surrounding environment. While its condition assessment is currently unrated, ongoing monitoring and risk management measures are in place to maintain the integrity of the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Carl Wittichen represents a fascinating case study of a privately owned dam with significant implications for both recreational activities and water management. Its presence on Canoe Creek highlights the interconnectedness of human infrastructure with natural ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of responsible stewardship and risk assessment in maintaining the safety and sustainability of such structures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Carl Wittichen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 399 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 143 cfs | → |
| Locust Fork Near Cleveland | 2,160 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 23 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek At Sewage Plant Near Pinson Al | 75 cfs | → |
| Blue Springs Creek Near Blountsville | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carl Wittichen.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive 128, Highland Lake
- Sugarland Lake Boat Launch
- Boat Landing Road 4101, Blount County
- Inland Lake Blount County
- Riverview Drive St. Clair County
- Echo Lake Lane 7501, Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Carl Wittichen 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 Carl Wittichen
Where does the data for Carl Wittichen 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 Significant 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.