Tallest Dams in Alabama
Alabama has 2177 dams with recorded heights. The tallest is Lewis Smith at 300 feet. Taller dams impound more water and carry greater potential energy, which is why height is a key factor in hazard classification and inspection requirements.
| # | Dam | County | Height (ft) | Type | Purpose | Hazard | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Smith | Walker | 300 | Rockfill | Hydroelectric | High | 1961 |
| 2 | Wheeler Dam | Lauderdale | 175 | Concrete | Hydroelectric | High | 1936 |
| 3 | Walter F. George Lock And Dam | Clay | 171 | Concrete | Hydroelectric | High | 1962 |
| 4 | Martin | Tallapoosa | 168 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1926 |
| 5 | Miller Steam Plant Ash Pond | Jefferson | 158 | Earth | Other | Low | 1977 |
| 6 | Rattlesnake Dam | Walker | 145 | Earth | Other | Significant | 1979 |
| 7 | Logan Martin | St. Clair | 142 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1964 |
| 8 | Wilson Dam | Lauderdale | 137 | Concrete | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1924 |
| 9 | Lay | Coosa | 130 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1914 |
| 10 | Belcher Lumber Company Dam | Shelby | 129 | Earth | Recreation | High | 1968 |
| 11 | Jordan | Elmore | 125 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1928 |
| 12 | Lake Tuscaloosa Dam | Tuscaloosa | 125 | Earth | Recreation | High | 1971 |
| 13 | Holt Lock And Dam | Tuscaloosa | 120 | Gravity | Navigation | High | 1968 |
| 14 | Tallaseehatchee Creek W/s Dam Site 1 | Talladega | 114 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1980 |
| 15 | John Hollis Bankhead Lock And Dam | Tuscaloosa | 111 | Gravity | Navigation | High | 1975 |
| 16 | Robert F. Henry Lock And Dam | Lowndes | 110 | Gravity | Navigation | Significant | 1974 |
| 17 | Strip Mining Impoundment Dam No 1 | Walker | 108 | Earth | Other | Significant | 1970 |
| 18 | Mitchell | Chilton | 106 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1923 |
| 19 | Terrapin Creek Ws Dam Site 22 | Cleburne | 106 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | Low | 1968 |
| 20 | H. Neely Henry | St. Clair | 104 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1966 |
| 21 | Cedar Creek Dam | Franklin | 102 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1979 |
| 22 | Lake Catoma Dam | Cullman | 100 | Rockfill | Recreation | High | 1966 |
| 23 | Imp No.1 | Jefferson | 100 | Tailings | Low | ||
| 24 | Bayview Lake | Jefferson | 100 | Gravity | Water Supply | High | 1910 |
| 25 | Slurry Impoundment #4 | Jefferson | 100 | Earth | Water Supply | Low | |
| 26 | Bessie Mines-#3 Impoundment | Jefferson | 100 | Rockfill | Other | Low | 1979 |
| 27 | Millers Ferry Lock And Dam | Wilcox | 100 | Gravity | Recreation | Significant | 1970 |
| 28 | Forrest Ingram Dam | Cullman | 95 | Rockfill | Recreation | Significant | 1968 |
| 29 | Guntersville Dam | Marshall | 94 | Concrete | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1939 |
| 30 | Sayre Impoundment No 1 | Jefferson | 92 | Earth | Other | Low | 1979 |
| 31 | Choccolocco Creek W/s Dam Site 6 | Calhoun | 91 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1977 |
| 32 | Weiss - Highway 411 Dike | Cherokee | 90 | Earth | Hydroelectric | High | 1961 |
| 33 | Little Bear Creek Dam | Franklin | 89 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1975 |
| 34 | High Rock Lake - Site 24 | Cleburne | 88 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1972 |
| 35 | Yates | Elmore | 87 | Gravity | Hydroelectric | High | 1928 |
| 36 | Drummond Lake Dam | Jefferson | 86 | Earth | Recreation | High | 1975 |
| 37 | Tallaseehatchee Creek W/s Dam Site 4 | Talladega | 86 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1982 |
| 38 | Upper Bear Creek Dam | Marion | 85 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1978 |
| 39 | Miller Steam Plant Water Storage Pond | Jefferson | 82 | Gravity | Water Supply | Low | 1977 |
| 40 | Lake Nicol Dam | Tuscaloosa | 82 | Earth | Water Supply | Low | 1954 |
| 41 | Manor Lake | Blount | 80 | Earth | Recreation | High | 1967 |
| 42 | Impoundment No. 3 | Jefferson | 80 | Significant | |||
| 43 | Slurry Impoundment - Johns Washer | Jefferson | 80 | Earth | Other | Low | 1979 |
| 44 | Claiborne Lock And Dam | Monroe | 80 | Gravity | Navigation | Significant | 1971 |
| 45 | Slurry Impoundment No. 1 | Tuscaloosa | 80 | Earth | Low | ||
| 46 | Cheaha Creek W/s Dam Site 6 | Talladega | 79 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1970 |
| 47 | Cheaha Creek W/s Dam Site 5 | Talladega | 76 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1968 |
| 48 | Choccolocco Creek W/s Dam Site 11 | Calhoun | 75 | Earth | Flood Risk Reduction | High | 1971 |
| 49 | Flat Top Mine-#1 Impoundment | Jefferson | 75 | Rockfill | Other | Low | 1979 |
| 50 | J.b. Converse Reservoir Dam | Mobile | 75 | Earth | Water Supply | High | 1952 |