Caroline Wilson Dam
Caroline Wilson
Caroline Wilson, also known as Wilson Pond, is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Houston County, Alabama. Built in 1969 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth dam stands at 13 feet high and spans 525 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, it primarily serves the purpose of supporting fish and wildlife habitats, as well as recreational activities for enthusiasts in the area.
Despite its tranquil appearance, Caroline Wilson poses a high hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway and lack of regulatory oversight. The dam's condition remains unrated, and there is no established Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. However, the risk assessment deems it as moderate (3), signaling a need for increased monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in the event of a dam failure.
Congressional District 02, Alabama, represented by Martha Roby, oversees Caroline Wilson. Given its importance for local wildlife and recreation, enthusiasts and climate advocates should stay informed about any developments related to its maintenance and safety measures. As a significant water resource in the area, Caroline Wilson serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible dam management and the need for proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies to protect both the environment and nearby communities.
Inside the reservoir
The real shoreline of this water body, with a depth model scaled so the basin holds exactly its recorded storage. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, and use the slider to drain and refill it. Click anywhere on the basin for the modelled depth there.
NID normal pool storage (152 AF) over this shoreline implies a 43 ft basin, deeper than the 13 ft dam. Depth capped to the dam; storage shown is modelled, not NID.
How this is built. The shoreline is the National Hydrography
Dataset polygon for this water body (“Fowlers Pond”),
matched to the dam by proximity and confirmed by comparing its area with the
National Inventory of Dams surface area.
Depth is modelled, not surveyed: the basin is shaped by distance from
shore — deep in open water, shallow in the bays — and scaled so its
volume equals the recorded storage. No national bathymetric survey exists for
US reservoirs. Treat the shoreline, area and volume as measured, and the depth
distribution as an informed approximation.
Above normal pool, water is shown rising within the normal-pool
shoreline. Where it would actually spread depends on the surrounding
terrain, which is not modelled here — a reservoir in a steep canyon barely
widens, one on flat ground can spread a long way. This is a depth and volume
figure, not an inundation map. Official inundation mapping for a dam
comes from its Emergency Action Plan.
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 Caroline Wilson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sawhatchee Creek At Cedar Springs | 32 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Near Newton | 86 cfs | → |
| Chipola River At Marianna Fl | 264 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Near Bellwood Al | 248 cfs | → |
| Wrights Creek At Sh 177-A Nr Bonifay | 89 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Nr Pittman | 737 cfs | → |
About Caroline Wilson
Where does the data for Caroline Wilson 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 below 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.
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.
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