Thornton Lake is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Alabama, built in 1920. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 1,750 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 Thornton Lake
The primary purpose of Thornton Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by John Taylor Thornton (private). It impounds the Falls Creek near Media.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,750 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Media |
| River/Stream | Falls Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.67500, -87.05500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 150 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | John Taylor Thornton |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01292 |
| Federal ID | AL01292 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |