Chitwood dam
Chitwood
Chitwood is a privately owned dam located in DeKalb, Alabama, along the Brown Branch river. Built in 1966, this earth-type dam stands at a structural height of 20 feet and has a hydraulic height of 16 feet. With a total length of 557 feet, the dam provides recreational opportunities in the area, serving its primary purpose as a recreational spot for visitors.
Despite its recreational appeal, Chitwood poses a high hazard potential and has not been rated for its current condition. The dam has a storage capacity of 162 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1038 cubic feet per second, making it crucial to monitor and inspect the structure regularly to ensure public safety. Although there is no state regulation or enforcement in place for this dam, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with its operation.
As an enthusiast of water resources and climate, understanding the infrastructure and potential risks of dams like Chitwood is essential in promoting sustainable water management practices. By staying informed about the condition and safety measures of such structures, we can work towards protecting our water resources and the communities that rely on them for recreation and other purposes.
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 Chitwood -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne | 45 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Near Geraldine Al | 66 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Blue Pond Al | 146 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al | 245 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 136 cfs | → |
| Paint Rock River Near Woodville Al | 273 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chitwood.
Boat launches
- County Road 67, Langston
- Comer Bridge Public Boat Ramp
- Winn Road 1162, Scottsboro
- County Park Road 2300-2398, Scottsboro
- Highway 79 3333, Scottsboro
- County Road 613 Dekalb County
Campgrounds
- Dekalb County Public Lake
- Bucks Pocket State Park
- Goose Pond Colony
- Jackson County Park
- De Soto State Park
- Town Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
Track Chitwood 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 Chitwood
Where does the data for Chitwood 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 Chitwood.