Sloss Lake dam
Sloss Lake
Sloss Lake, also known as City Pump Pond, is a private recreational lake located in Russellville, Alabama. The lake is fed by Pain Creek and has a dam structure that was completed in 1910, with a maximum storage capacity of 627 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 412 acre-feet. The dam has a hydraulic height of 23 feet and a structural height of 28 feet, making it a significant water resource in the area.
Despite its primary purpose for recreation, Sloss Lake poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being "Not Rated" and lacking a formal inspection and assessment date. The lake does not have a spillway and is not state regulated, inspected, or permitted, which raises concerns about its safety and management. The risk management measures and emergency action plans for the lake are not clearly defined, indicating a need for improved safety protocols and regulatory oversight to ensure the protection of the surrounding community and environment.
Sloss Lake's historical significance and potential risks highlight the importance of proper management and monitoring of water resources, especially in the face of changing climate conditions. As a popular recreational spot in Franklin County, Alabama, it is essential for stakeholders to address the safety concerns and potential hazards associated with the dam structure to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of Sloss Lake for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Sloss Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cypress Creek Near Florence Al | 251 cfs | → |
| Sipsey Fork Near Grayson Al | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Red Bay | 261 cfs | → |
| Big Nance Creek At Courtland Al | 21 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Bishop | 4,330 cfs | → |
| Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al | 283 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sloss Lake.
Boat launches
- Britton Bridge Boat Ramp
- Slickrock Boat Ramp Road Franklin County
- County Road 10 1522, Franklin County
- Lost Creek Road Franklin County
- Massey Branch Boat Launch
- Cotton Gin Road Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Williams Hollow Campground
- Wolf Pen Hunters Camp
- Claymore Camp #1
- Mcdougle Camp
- Colbert Ferry Bicycle Only Campground
- Brushy Lake Recreational Area Campground
Track Sloss Lake 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 Sloss Lake
Where does the data for Sloss Lake 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 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 Sloss Lake.