Point a is a gravity dam located in Covington County, Alabama, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 56 ft56 ft tall and 1,500 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Point a
The primary purpose of Point a is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc. (private). It impounds the Conecuh River, Patsaliga River near River Falls.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,261 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century old.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/18/2022.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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. Alabama is the only state with no dam safety program, so there is no state office to contact about this structure; the federal record above is what exists. ASDSO's page on Alabama explains the gap.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Covington |
| Nearest City | River Falls |
| River/Stream | Conecuh River, Patsaliga River |
| Coordinates | 31.36100, -86.51840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,261 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01413 |
| Federal ID | AL01413 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |