Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Lowndes County, Alabama, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 110 ft110 ft tall and 1,150 ft long, taller than 98% 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 Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Alabama River near Benton.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 1,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 234,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16,233 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2022.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Lowndes |
| Nearest City | Benton |
| River/Stream | Alabama River |
| Coordinates | 32.32424, -86.78400 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 234,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 234,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 234,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16,233 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 653,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01434 |
| Federal ID | AL01434 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |