James is an earth dam located in St. Clair County, Alabama, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 68% 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 James
The primary purpose of James is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Leo Ryan (private). It impounds the Tr Cahaba River near Whites Chapel.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 | St. Clair |
| Nearest City | Whites Chapel |
| River/Stream | Tr Cahaba River |
| Coordinates | 33.61167, -86.54333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 1,280 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Leo Ryan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01048 |
| Federal ID | AL01048 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |