Lawson Lake No. 1 dam
Lawson Lake No. 1
Lawson Lake No. 1, located in Limestone, Alabama, is a private fish and wildlife pond designed by the USDA NRCS, with a dam completed in 1961. This earth dam has a height of 13 feet and a length of 787 feet, providing a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet for irrigation, recreation, and wildlife purposes. The dam controls the flow of TR-ROUND ISLAND CREEK, with a maximum discharge of 600 cubic feet per second through an uncontrolled spillway.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. It is important to note that no state jurisdiction, regulation, permitting, or inspection is enforced for Lawson Lake No. 1, making it crucial for private owners to ensure proper maintenance and upkeep. The risk assessment for this dam is moderate (3), indicating the need for consistent monitoring and potential risk management measures to prevent any emergencies or failures.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Lawson Lake No. 1 to be a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and management. Its history, design features, and the potential risks associated with its operation underscore the importance of responsible stewardship of our water resources for the benefit of both wildlife and human communities.
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 Lawson Lake No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Nance Creek At Courtland Al | 21 cfs | → |
| Limestone Creek Near Athens Al | 525 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Prospect | 3,330 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Madison Al | 300 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek Near Falkville Al | 84 cfs | → |
| Mcdonald Creek At Patton Road Nr Huntsville Al | 206 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lawson Lake No. 1.
Boat launches
- Cowford Road Athens
- County Road 443 44, Hillsboro
- County Road 579 Lawrence County
- West Dike Road Limestone County
- Main Launch Way Limestone County
- Bay Village Drive Limestone County
Campgrounds
- Point Mallard City Campground
- Joe Wheeler State Park
- Easter Posey Mwr Military - Redstone Arsenal
- Redstone Arsenal Rv Military
- Mcdougle Camp
- Brushy Lake Recreational Area Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Lawson Lake No. 1 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 Lawson Lake No. 1
Where does the data for Lawson Lake No. 1 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 Lawson Lake No. 1.