Policemen Lake dam
Policemen Lake
Policemen Lake, located in Calhoun, Alabama, is a private water resource primarily used for recreation. Constructed in 1951, the earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet, with a hydraulic height of 13 feet. The lake has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 90 acre-feet. It is fed by Weaver Creek and has a maximum discharge capacity of 950 cubic feet per second.
Despite being privately owned, Policemen Lake has low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The dam has not been modified over the years and does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. The lake is not regulated or inspected by the state, with no enforcement or permitting procedures in effect.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Policemen Lake presents an intriguing case study of a private recreational water source in Alabama. With its scenic location, modest dam structure, and limited regulatory oversight, the lake offers a glimpse into the diverse landscape of water management in the United States.
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 Policemen Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Choccolocco Creek Near Boiling Spring | 143 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Heflin | 248 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al | 407 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 492 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 117 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Policemen Lake.
Boat launches
- Thousand Trails Lane 1062, Columbus
- Highway 159 4705, Fayetteville
- Park Prairie Road 1298, Fayetteville
- West Highway 71 Business 737-971, La Grange
- Highway 90 Alternate 4882, Eagle Lake
- Prairie Valley Road 1517, West Point
Campgrounds
- Pine Glen
- Pine Glen Recreation Area
- Anniston Army Depot Rv Military
- Coleman Lake Recreation Area
- Coleman Lake Rec Area
- Big Oak Gap Hunter Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- River Miles 8 Near Ga Sate Line To Confluence With Little River
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
More reservoirs
Track Policemen 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 Policemen Lake
Where does the data for Policemen 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 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 Policemen Lake.