Marion County Public Lake Dam dam
Marion County Public Lake Dam
Marion County Public Lake Dam, also known as County Lake Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Marion, Alabama. Built in 1950, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a maximum storage capacity of 384 acre-feet and a normal storage of 368 acre-feet. The dam stands at a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 28 feet, spanning a length of 375 feet along Cantrell Mill Creek.
Situated in Henson Springs, Marion County Public Lake Dam is overseen by the state of Alabama and falls under the jurisdiction of the Mobile District. With a low hazard potential and a current condition assessment of "Not Rated," this dam has not been subject to recent inspections or assessments. Despite its lack of regulatory agency oversight, the dam remains a vital resource for water recreation enthusiasts in the region, offering a serene environment for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.
Although lacking in certain regulatory measures such as state permitting and inspections, Marion County Public Lake Dam continues to provide a safe and enjoyable recreational experience for visitors. With its picturesque location and ample storage capacity, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate-conscious infrastructure development in Alabama's natural landscape.
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 Marion County Public Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al | 154 cfs | → |
| Bull Mountain Creek At Tremont | 70 cfs | → |
| Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen | 506 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Red Bay | 80 cfs | → |
| Cummings Creek Nr Fulton | 12 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River Nr Fulton | 203 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marion County Public Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 27 Franklin County
- County Road 79 Bear Creek
- Ironwood Bluff Boat Ramp Access Itawamba County
- Piney Point Road Franklin County
- Glover Wilkins Road Monroe County
- Massey Branch Boat Launch
Track Marion County Public Lake Dam 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 Marion County Public Lake Dam
Where does the data for Marion County Public Lake Dam 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 Low 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 Marion County Public Lake Dam.