Lake Ola Dam dam
Lake Ola Dam
Lake Ola Dam, located in the beautiful countryside of Washington County, Alabama, was completed in 1965 and stands as a private recreational attraction for water enthusiasts. This earth dam, spanning 400 feet in length with a hydraulic height of 29 feet, forms Lake Ola and offers a maximum storage capacity of 81 acre-feet. Situated along Buck Creek and surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, the dam serves as a low hazard potential structure with a condition assessment that is currently not rated.
Owned and operated by a private entity, Lake Ola Dam provides a tranquil setting for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities in the Antioch Church Community. Despite being not federally regulated or inspected, the dam's primary purpose of recreation draws visitors seeking a peaceful escape in the heart of Alabama. With its picturesque setting and low-risk profile, Lake Ola Dam continues to be a beloved destination for those seeking a connection with nature and the calming waters of Buck Creek.
While lacking in federal oversight, Lake Ola Dam remains a cherished asset in the region, offering a serene escape for locals and visitors alike. With its modest dimensions and focus on recreation, this earth dam stands as a testament to the symbiotic relationship between water resources and community enjoyment, embodying the essence of sustainable coexistence between humanity and the natural world.
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 Lake Ola Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasawhay River Nr Waynesboro | 2,310 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee R At Coffeeville L&D Nr Coffeeville | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Satilpa Creek Near Coffeeville Al | 81 cfs | → |
| Chickasawhay River At Leakesville | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Bogue Homo Nr Richton | 556 cfs | → |
| Tallahala Creek At Laurel | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Ola Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Bladon Springs State Park
- Maynor Creek Waterpark
- Service
- Lenoir Landing - Coffeeville Lake
- St. Stephens Historical Park
- Saint Stephens Park Primitive Campground
Paddle runs
- Begins Approximately 2 River Miles Downstream From The Yellowhouse Branch Confluence With The Escatawpa River Near The Town Of Deer Park, Alabama To Ends Approximately 1 River Mile Upstream From The U.S. Highway 98 Bridge
- The Confluence With Scarsborough Creek To The Confluence With The Escatawpa River
- Begins Approximately 1 River Mile Upstream From The U.S. Highway 98 Bridge To The Jackson County Route 614 Bridge
Track Lake Ola 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 Lake Ola Dam
Where does the data for Lake Ola 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 Lake Ola Dam.