Nolen dam
Nolen
Nolen is a privately owned dam located in Lafayette, Alabama, along TR Chatahospee Mill Creek. Built in 1954 for recreational purposes, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 29 feet with a hydraulic height of 27 feet. It has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 75 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 600 feet and has a significant hazard potential.
Although Nolen does not fall under state jurisdiction, it is situated in Congressional District 03 of Alabama, represented by Mike Rogers. With no state permitting or inspection requirements, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated". Emergency action plans and risk management measures have yet to be established, highlighting the need for proactive monitoring and maintenance of this recreational structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Nolen presents an intriguing case study in dam safety and management practices.
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 Nolen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee River At West Point | 866 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River At Wadley Al | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Nr New Site | 752 cfs | → |
| Sougahatchee Creek At Co Rd 188 Nr Loachapoka | 37 cfs | → |
| Chewacla Creek At Chewacla State Park Nr Auburn | 6 cfs | → |
| Hillabee Creek Near Hackneyville Al | 130 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nolen.
⚓ Boat launches
- County Road 390 Chambers County
- West 7th Street 199, West Point
- Westpoint Road West Point
- Dam Road Troup County
- Abbottsford Road Troup County
- Pyne Road Park Mega Ramp
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →Track Nolen 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 Nolen
Where does the data for Nolen 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.