Patterson dam
Patterson
Patterson is a privately-owned Earth dam located in Wellington, Calhoun County, Alabama. Built in 1953, it spans 600 feet across the Tallahatchee Creek and serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam has a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 620 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Patterson has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment.
This tranquil reservoir offers a serene setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. Situated within the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Patterson provides a peaceful escape for visitors seeking to connect with nature. With its ample storage capacity and stable condition, the dam ensures a safe and enjoyable environment for recreational use.
While Patterson may not be a large-scale water resource, its significance lies in the role it plays in providing a place for community members to unwind and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscape. As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining and preserving structures like Patterson becomes increasingly important to ensure sustainable access to recreational opportunities for future generations.
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 Patterson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Choccolocco Creek Near Boiling Spring | 116 cfs | → |
| Big Wills Creek Near Reece City | 147 cfs | → |
| Terrapin Creek At Ellisville Al | 128 cfs | → |
| Big Canoe Creek At Ashville Al | 47 cfs | → |
| Choccolocco Creek At Jackson Shoal Nr Lincoln Al | 318 cfs | → |
| Tallapoosa River Near Heflin | 218 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Patterson.
Boat launches
- Ohatchee
- St. Clair County
- Lonz Street 206, Gadsden
- Riverview Drive St. Clair County
- Broad Street Gadsden
- Coleman Boat Ramp Road Cleburne County
Campgrounds
- Anniston Army Depot Rv Military
- Pine Glen
- Pine Glen Recreation Area
- Noccalula Falls Campground
- Coleman Lake Recreation Area
- Coleman Lake Rec Area
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
Track Patterson 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 Patterson
Where does the data for Patterson 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.