W J Sorrell is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Alabama, built in 1949. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 805 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About W J Sorrell
The primary purpose of W J Sorrell is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by John Braswell (private). It impounds the Tr Mcdowell Creek near Mathews.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 805 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life.
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Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Mathews |
| River/Stream | Tr Mcdowell Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.23500, -86.03667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 805 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 140 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | John Braswell |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL00523 |
| Federal ID | AL00523 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |