Belcher Lake dam
Belcher Lake
Belcher Lake, also known as Brasher Lake, is a privately owned recreational lake located in Shelby County, Alabama. The dam was completed in 1951 and has a maximum storage capacity of 74 acre-feet. The lake spans a surface area of 72 acres and is primarily used for recreational purposes such as fishing and boating.
With a hydraulic height of 31 feet and a structural height of 36 feet, Belcher Lake poses a significant hazard potential. Despite not having an official condition assessment rating, the dam has not been inspected recently. There are no emergency action plans in place, and the risk management measures are unknown. The lake is situated in the Narrows community and is fed by the TR. Cooper Branch.
As a water resource and climate enthusiast, Belcher Lake offers an intriguing case study for understanding the importance of proper dam maintenance and emergency preparedness. With its significant hazard potential, the lake serves as a reminder of the importance of regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency action plans to ensure the safety of both the dam structure and surrounding communities. The lack of recent inspections and emergency plans highlights the need for increased awareness and proactive measures to mitigate potential risks associated with dams like Belcher Lake.
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 Belcher Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cahaba River Near Hoover | 16 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Cahaba Heights Al | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Cahaba River At Cah Bea Rd Nr Cahaba Hts Al | 74 cfs | → |
| Cahaba Valley Creek At Cross Cr Rd At Pelham | 9 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Acton Al | 16 cfs | → |
| Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belcher Lake.
Boat launches
- Terrace Drive Pelham
- Beeswax Park Road 2-750, Columbiana
- Hollywood Boulevard 449, Childersburg
- Kelly Creek Boat Landing, Vincent
- Bells Lane St. Clair County
- County Road 400 848, Shelby
Campgrounds
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Hoover Rv Park
- Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
- Campground #2
- Campground #1
- Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park
Track Belcher 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 Belcher Lake
Where does the data for Belcher 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 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 Belcher Lake.