Strain Nursery dam
Strain Nursery
Located in Tanner, Alabama, Strain Nursery is a privately owned irrigation dam designed by USDA NRCS in 1958. With a dam height of 20 feet and a length of 225 feet, this Earth-type structure serves the primary purpose of irrigation, drawing water from the TR-SWAN CREEK. The dam has a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 47 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Strain Nursery dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, with a significant hazard potential. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it poses a potential risk that warrants attention and monitoring. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet, and although it has not been inspected recently, its importance for irrigation and water management highlights the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure its safety and reliability for the future. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Strain Nursery represents a vital infrastructure that plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities and water supply 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 Strain Nursery -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Limestone Creek Near Athens Al | 525 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Madison Al | 300 cfs | → |
| Mcdonald Creek At Patton Road Nr Huntsville Al | 206 cfs | → |
| Broglan Branch At Oakwood Avenue At Huntsville | 38 cfs | → |
| Huntsville Sp Br At Johnson Road | 588 cfs | → |
| Pinhook Creek At Clinton Ave. At Huntsville | 290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Strain Nursery.
Boat launches
- West Dike Road Limestone County
- Main Launch Way Limestone County
- Cowford Road Athens
- Arrowhead Landing Road Limestone County
- Beaver Dam Tower Loop Limestone County
- County Road 579 Lawrence County
Campgrounds
- Point Mallard City Campground
- Easter Posey Mwr Military - Redstone Arsenal
- Redstone Arsenal Rv Military
- Ditto Landing City Campground
- Monte Sano State Park
- Joe Wheeler State Park
Fishing spots
- Tva Public Land
- Buckeye Pond
- Crowder Slough
- Winton Branch
- Madison County Lake
- Fayetteville Old Stone Bridge
Paddle runs
Track Strain Nursery 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 Strain Nursery
Where does the data for Strain Nursery 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Strain Nursery.