Alden Lake Dam dam
Alden Lake Dam
Alden Lake Dam, also known as Alden Station, is a private-owned earth dam located in Horn Lake, Mississippi. The dam, situated on the UNT of Cow Pen Creek, serves primarily for recreation purposes and is regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. With a hydraulic height of 11.4 feet and a structural height of 16.8 feet, the dam stands at 14.5 feet tall and has a length of 600 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 115 acre-feet and a normal storage of 80 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 18.2 acres and draining an area of 0.12 square miles.
The significant hazard potential of Alden Lake Dam is managed through regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in June 2018 and deemed satisfactory. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a score of 3, indicating a moderate level of risk. Although the dam does not have any associated locks or outlet gates, it features an uncontrolled spillway type. The dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not specifically mentioned in the available data, suggesting potential areas for improvement in emergency preparedness and risk mitigation strategies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Alden Lake Dam offers a unique insight into the management and regulation of private dams in Mississippi. With its recreational purpose and significant hazard potential, the dam presents both opportunities for enjoyment and risks that require careful monitoring and maintenance. Understanding the infrastructure and characteristics of Alden Lake Dam can provide valuable lessons for sustainable water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Alden Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Memphis | 428,000 cfs | → |
| Nonconnah Creek Near Germantown | 335 cfs | → |
| Coldwater River Nr Olive Branch | 207 cfs | → |
| Wolf River At Germantown | 857 cfs | → |
| Fletcher Creek At Sycamore View Road At Memphis | 205 cfs | → |
| Wolf River At Rossville | 413 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alden Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Track Alden 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 Alden Lake Dam
Where does the data for Alden 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 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 Alden Lake Dam.