Louis Murphy dam
Louis Murphy
Louis Murphy is a private recreational dam located in Watula Church, Alabama, within Lee County. Completed in 1958, this earth-type dam stands 42 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 40 feet and a length of 600 feet. It has a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and is situated on the TR-Watula Lake, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area.
Although Louis Murphy has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain undisclosed. The dam is not under federal jurisdiction or state regulation, as it falls under private ownership with no associated structures or features. Despite its lack of state permitting or inspection, Louis Murphy continues to provide recreational opportunities for the local community.
Managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Louis Murphy's primary purpose is recreation, offering a serene setting for fishing, boating, and other leisure activities. With a max discharge of 85 cubic feet per second and a tranquil surface area, this dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water resources and climate enthusiasts in the heart of 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 Louis Murphy -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chewacla Creek At Chewacla State Park Nr Auburn | 79 cfs | → |
| Sougahatchee Creek At Co Rd 188 Nr Loachapoka | 23 cfs | → |
| Uphapee Creek Near Tuskegee Al | 72 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At Us 280 | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Uchee Creek Near Fort Mitchell | 118 cfs | → |
| Chattahoochee River At West Point | 856 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Louis Murphy.
Boat launches
- Mcculloh Road 9001-9499, Valley
- West 7th Street 199, West Point
- Dam Road Troup County
- County Road 390 Chambers County
- Westpoint Road West Point
- Yates Lake Ramp
Campgrounds
Track Louis Murphy 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 Louis Murphy
Where does the data for Louis Murphy 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 Louis Murphy.