Madison County Public Lake Dam dam
Madison County Public Lake Dam
Madison County Public Lake Dam, located in Gurley, Alabama, is a key structure managed by the USDA NRCS for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Built in 1958, this Earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 900 feet, allowing for a normal storage capacity of 1712 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a tributary of Hurricane Creek and serves the community by providing a recreational space for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife habitat for various species.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment due to its age and lack of recent inspections. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 100 feet, and the maximum discharge capacity is recorded at 2151 cubic feet per second. While the dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," there is a need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its long-term functionality and safety. The surrounding area benefits from the dam's presence, but ongoing risk management measures and emergency preparedness are essential to mitigate any potential issues in the future.
Overall, Madison County Public Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for both water conservation and recreational activities in the region. With a focus on fish and wildlife preservation, the dam contributes to the local ecosystem while offering opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, it is crucial to stay informed about the condition and management of such structures to ensure their continued effectiveness and safety for the community and the environment.
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 Madison County Public Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River At Brownsboro | 257 cfs | → |
| Big Cove Creek At Dug Hill Road Nr Huntsville | 115 cfs | → |
| Dallas Branch At Coleman St In Huntsville | 91 cfs | → |
| East Fork Pinhook Cr At Winchester Rd At Huntsvil | 60 cfs | → |
| Hester Creek At Buddy Williamson Rd Nr Plevna | 7 cfs | → |
| Pinhook C At Mastin Lake Rd At Huntsville | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Madison County Public Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hobbs Island Road Southeast Huntsville
- Highway 79 3333, Scottsboro
- Old Dam Road 1-457, Mulberry
- Champ Road 48-142, Kelso
- Winn Road 1162, Scottsboro
- County Park Road 2300-2398, Scottsboro
Campgrounds
- Sharon Johnston Park
- Monte Sano State Park
- Sleeper Bus
- Redstone Arsenal Rv Military
- Ditto Landing City Campground
- Cathedral Caverns State Park
Fishing spots
- Madison County Lake
- Crowder Slough
- Guntersville Lake
- Fayetteville Old Stone Bridge
- Buckeye Pond
- Winton Branch
Paddle runs
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- 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
- Begins One Mile Upstream From Al 273 Bridge To Lake Weiss
Track Madison County Public Lake 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 Madison County Public Lake Dam
Where does the data for Madison County Public Lake 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 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 Madison County Public Lake Dam.