Yates is a gravity dam located in Elmore County, Alabama, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 87 ft87 ft tall and 1,261 ft long, taller than 97% 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 Yates
The primary purpose of Yates 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 Power Company (public utility). It impounds the Tallapoosa River near Tallassee.
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 1,261 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 54,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,250 square miles. Completed in 1928, 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. 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 06/01/2022.
At 87 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Elmore |
| Nearest City | Tallassee |
| River/Stream | Tallapoosa River |
| Coordinates | 32.57424, -85.88964 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,261 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 54,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 54,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,250 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 326,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Alabama Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01421 |
| Federal ID | AL01421 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |