Newfound Creek Lake dam
Newfound Creek Lake
Newfound Creek Lake, located in Jefferson County, Alabama, is a privately owned reservoir built in 1925 primarily for water supply purposes. The dam, with a buttress design and a hydraulic height of 19 feet, stands at a structural height of 23 feet and spans a length of 142 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 202 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 144 acre-feet, serving as a vital water resource for the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential with a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Newfound Creek Lake has not undergone recent inspections or assessments. The reservoir, situated on Newfound Creek, is managed by private owners and does not fall under state or federal regulatory jurisdiction. The emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures for the dam are not currently reported, raising questions about the preparedness and safety protocols in place for potential emergencies.
While Newfound Creek Lake provides essential water supply services, the lack of recent inspections and assessment updates raises concerns about the overall safety and management of the dam. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the infrastructure and potential risks associated with dams like Newfound Creek Lake is crucial for ensuring the resilience and sustainability of water systems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Newfound Creek Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fivemile Creek Near Republic | 27 cfs | → |
| Locust Fork At Sayre | 297 cfs | → |
| Village Creek Near Docena | 35 cfs | → |
| Fivemile Creek At Ketona Al | 43 cfs | → |
| Village Creek At 24th St. At Birmingham | 229 cfs | → |
| Village Creek Near Pratt City | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newfound Creek Lake.
Boat launches
- Dickey Camp Road Jefferson County
- Old Mill Trail 7098, Clay
- Highway 78 8090, Cordova
- Bevill Drive Cordova
- Lake In The Woods Road Jefferson County
- Echo Lake Lane 7501, Jefferson County
Campgrounds
- Rickwood Caverns State Park
- Hoover Rv Park
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Campground #2
- Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
- Campground #1
Track Newfound Creek Lake 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 Newfound Creek Lake
Where does the data for Newfound Creek Lake 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 Newfound Creek Lake.