Mountain Lake Dam dam
Mountain Lake Dam
Mountain Lake Dam, located in the scenic village of Springs North in Blount County, Alabama, is a privately owned structure on Gurley Creek. Built in 1938, this earth dam stands at a towering 56 feet high, with a hydraulic height of 47 feet and a length of 760 feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a serene and picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities and water sports.
The dam has a storage capacity of 2,878 acre-feet, making it a significant structure in the region. While not currently rated for condition assessment, it is classified as having a significant hazard potential. Despite its age, no major modifications or inspections have been reported in recent years. The dam also lacks essential emergency preparedness measures, including an Emergency Action Plan and updated contact information.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mountain Lake Dam presents a fascinating case study of a historic earth dam that plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities in the area. Its structural design and storage capacity contribute to the local watershed management, although its lack of recent assessments and emergency preparedness raise concerns about its long-term sustainability and safety. Further research and monitoring efforts may be needed to ensure the continued functionality and resilience of this iconic dam.
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 Mountain Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey Creek At Sewage Plant Near Pinson Al | 18 cfs | → |
| Blackburn Fork Little Warrior R Nr Holly Springs | 6 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River At Trussville | 2 cfs | → |
| Fivemile Creek At Ketona Al | 43 cfs | → |
| Village Creek At 86th St North At Roebuck | 4 cfs | → |
| Mulberry Fork Near Garden City | 247 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Inland Lake Blount County
- Echo Lake Lane 7501, Jefferson County
- Lake In The Woods Road Jefferson County
- Old Mill Trail 7098, Clay
- Boat Landing Road 4101, Blount County
- Highlands Drive Trussville
Track Mountain 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 Mountain Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mountain 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 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 Mountain Lake Dam.