Sharps Mill Dam dam
Sharps Mill Dam
Sharps Mill Dam, also known as White@S Lake Dam, is a gravity dam located in Lauderdale, Alabama, on the Little Cypress Creek. Built in 1929, this private-owned structure serves a variety of purposes beyond flood control and water storage, making it a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a length of 150 feet, Sharps Mill Dam has a significant hazard potential and has not been rated for its current condition.
Despite its age and potential risks, Sharps Mill Dam has not been regulated or inspected by the state of Alabama. This lack of oversight raises concerns about the dam's safety and the potential consequences of a failure. With a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 52 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. However, the absence of state permitting, inspection, and enforcement raises questions about its long-term sustainability.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure across the country, Sharps Mill Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and regulation. With its significant hazard potential and lack of state oversight, the dam presents a potential risk to the surrounding community. It is essential for stakeholders to prioritize the safety and maintenance of this structure to ensure the protection of both the environment and local residents.
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 Sharps Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cypress Creek Near Florence Al | 251 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek At Iron City | 601 cfs | → |
| Big Nance Creek At Courtland Al | 21 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Bishop | 4,330 cfs | → |
| Horse Creek Near Savannah | 174 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Red Bay | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sharps Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Lauderdale County 47 Lauderdale County
- Florence
- Rockpile Trail Colbert County
- North Wilson Dam Road Colbert County
- Riverfront Drive 166-190, Sheffield
- Six Pence Road Lauderdale County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Sharps Mill Dam 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 Sharps Mill Dam
Where does the data for Sharps Mill Dam 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 Sharps Mill Dam.