Mc Gowin dam
Mc Gowin
Mc Gowin is a privately owned dam located in Butler, Alabama, specifically in the city of East Chapman. Built in 1953, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 15 feet, with a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a length of 520 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, providing a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 26 cubic feet per second. Although not rated for condition assessment, its hazard potential is deemed significant.
Situated along Brushy Creek, Mc Gowin serves as a vital water resource in the region, offering recreational opportunities while also contributing to the local ecosystem. The dam's location within the Mobile District adds to its importance within the larger water management system in Alabama. With no state jurisdiction or permitting, Mc Gowin continues to operate without any major regulatory oversight, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and longevity.
As a key element in the water infrastructure of Alabama, Mc Gowin plays a crucial role in providing water storage and recreational benefits to the local community. However, its significant hazard potential underscores the importance of regular inspections and risk management measures to safeguard against potential failures. With its historical significance dating back to the 1950s, Mc Gowin remains a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the intersection of infrastructure, recreation, and environmental stewardship.
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 Mc Gowin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sepulga River Near Mckenzie Al | 525 cfs | → |
| Patsaliga Creek Near Brantley Al | 281 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River Bel Pt A Dam Nr River Falls | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River At River Falls | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Murder Creek Near Evergreen Al | 228 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River At Brantley Al | 342 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mc Gowin.
Boat launches
- Us 31 Conecuh County
- Us 84 Conecuh County
- Bull Slough Road 2298, Conecuh County
- Lowndes County
- Conecuh County 42 Conecuh County
Track Mc Gowin 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 Mc Gowin
Where does the data for Mc Gowin 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 Mc Gowin.