Terrapin Creek W/s Dam Site 17 is an earth dam located in Cherokee County, Alabama, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 630 ft long, taller than 72% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Terrapin Creek W/s Dam Site 17
The primary purpose of Terrapin Creek W/s Dam Site 17 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Terrapin Creek Watershed Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Hurricane Creek near Spring Garden.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,542 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 02/27/2001. That was over 25 years ago.
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Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Cherokee |
| Nearest City | Spring Garden |
| River/Stream | Hurricane Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.00167, -85.44667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,542 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,542 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 638 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Terrapin Creek Watershed Conservancy District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2001 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL00582 |
| Federal ID | AL00582 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |