Waites Dam dam
Waites Dam
Waites Dam, located in Scottsboro, Alabama, along the Tennessee River, was completed in 1965 and is currently owned privately. Designed by the USDA NRCS, this rockfill dam stands at 15 feet high and stretches 543 feet in length, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam has a storage capacity of 44 acre-feet, providing vital resources for the local ecosystem and recreational activities.
Despite its limited state regulation and inspection, Waites Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being unrated. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 92 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 420 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 0.39 square miles, the dam contributes significantly to water resource management in the region, although its risk assessment is marked as very high.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Waites Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and environmental conservation. With its focus on fish and wildlife preservation, the dam serves as a crucial habitat for local species while also providing recreational opportunities for the community. Its risk management measures and emergency preparedness, however, remain areas of concern that require further attention to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water resource infrastructure.
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 Waites Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Wills Creek At State Hwy 35 Nr Fort Payne | 39 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Near Geraldine Al | 57 cfs | → |
| Paint Rock River Near Woodville Al | 235 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Blue Pond Al | 113 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Brownsboro | 257 cfs | → |
| Big Cove Creek At Dug Hill Road Nr Huntsville | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waites Dam.
Boat launches
- Comer Bridge Public Boat Ramp
- County Park Road 2300-2398, Scottsboro
- Winn Road 1162, Scottsboro
- County Road 213 355, Hollywood
- Highway 79 3333, Scottsboro
- County Road 67, Langston
Campgrounds
- Jackson County Park
- Goose Pond Colony
- Dekalb County Public Lake
- Bucks Pocket State Park
- Stevenson Municipal Park - Guntersville Reservoir
- Cathedral Caverns State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Desoto Falls In Desoto State Park To Confluence With Little River
- Confluence With East And West Branches To Al 37 Bridge
- Al 35 Bridge To Ends One Mile Upstream From Al 273 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 Waites 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 Waites Dam
Where does the data for Waites 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 High 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 Waites Dam.