Canyon Lake Dam
Canyon Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Canyon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Canyon Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Judge Fred W Nicol (private). It impounds the Bee Branch near Cottondale.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 155 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Alabama dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Tuscaloosa |
| Nearest City | Cottondale |
| River/Stream | Bee Branch |
| Coordinates | 33.19400, -87.42592 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 155 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 155 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 4,465 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | JUDGE FRED W NICOL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01133 |
| Federal ID | AL01133 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |