Charles Woodham Lake dam
Charles Woodham Lake
Charles Woodham Lake, also known as Woodham Pond, is a private reservoir located in Covington, Alabama, specifically in the Watkins Bridge Community. Built in 1974, this gravity dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with additional benefits for recreation. The dam stands at 18 feet high with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, providing a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. The reservoir is fed by the TR Yellow River and has a low hazard potential, making it a relatively low-risk structure in terms of potential environmental impact.
Situated within the Mobile District of Alabama, Charles Woodham Lake offers a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a maximum discharge of 389 cubic feet per second, this reservoir plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Despite its private ownership, the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and there have been no recent inspections or emergency preparedness plans documented. However, the reservoir's function for irrigation and recreation highlights its importance in sustaining local water supply and supporting outdoor activities for the community.
As part of Congressional District 02 in Alabama, Charles Woodham Lake is overseen by Representative Martha Roby and falls under the jurisdiction of the state. With no state regulations or permitting requirements, the dam operates independently for now. However, the lack of recent assessments or emergency plans raises questions about the long-term sustainability and safety of this essential water resource. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, monitoring and maintaining structures like Charles Woodham Lake will be crucial for ensuring a reliable and resilient water supply for the future.
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 Charles Woodham Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conecuh River At River Falls | 587 cfs | → |
| Conecuh River Bel Pt A Dam Nr River Falls | 695 cfs | → |
| Pea River Near Samson Al | 793 cfs | → |
| Yellow River Nr Oak Grove | 770 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Bradley Al | 90 cfs | → |
| Shoal River Nr Mossy Head | 95 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Charles Woodham Lake.
Boat launches
- Geneva County
- County Road 2 2731, Baker
- Bull Slough Road 2298, Conecuh County
- Conecuh County 42 Conecuh County
- Okaloosa County
- Us 84 Conecuh County
Campgrounds
- Open Pond Recreation Area
- Florala State Park
- Frank Jackson State Park
- Karick Lake Upper - Blackwater River State Forest
- Karick Lake Lower - Blackwater River State Forest
- Red Deer
Fishing spots
Track Charles Woodham 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 Charles Woodham Lake
Where does the data for Charles Woodham 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 Charles Woodham Lake.