Sand Lake dam
Sand Lake
Sand Lake, located in Vandiver, Alabama, is a private water resource primarily used for recreation. The dam at Sand Lake is an earth dam, standing at a height of 13 feet and spanning a length of 270 feet. With a storage capacity of 101 acre-feet, the lake covers a surface area of 14 acres and is fed by the Shoal Creek I Trib 9. Despite its modest size, Sand Lake holds a high hazard potential, making it crucial for proper management and maintenance.
While Sand Lake is not state-regulated or permitted, it still poses a risk due to its high hazard potential. The dam's condition is currently not rated, highlighting the need for regular inspections and risk assessments to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. With its proximity to Congressional District 06 and the oversight of Representative Gary J. Palmer, the management of Sand Lake falls under the responsibility of private owners, emphasizing the importance of proactive stewardship to prevent potential hazards and maintain the lake's recreational value for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
In the absence of state regulation or enforcement, the responsibility for the maintenance and safety of Sand Lake falls on its private owners. With its high hazard potential and lack of a current condition assessment, it is crucial for the owners to prioritize regular inspections and risk assessments to mitigate any potential dangers. As a cherished recreational spot in Shelby, Alabama, Sand Lake serves as a valuable resource for water enthusiasts, highlighting the need for sustainable management practices to safeguard its future and preserve its natural beauty for generations to come.
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 Sand Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cahaba River Below Leeds | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River Nr Jefferson Park | 13 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 1 cfs | → |
| Kelly Creek Near Vincent Al | 31 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al | 48 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River At Cah Bea Rd Nr Cahaba Hts Al | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sand Lake.
Boat launches
- Highlands Drive Trussville
- Kelly Creek Boat Landing, Vincent
- Bells Lane St. Clair County
- Old Mill Trail 7098, Clay
- Lake In The Woods Road Jefferson County
- Echo Lake Lane 7501, Jefferson County
Track Sand 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 Sand Lake
Where does the data for Sand 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 High 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 Sand Lake.