William Bacon Oliver Lock And Dam
William Bacon Oliver Lock And Dam is a gravity dam located in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, built in 1992. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About William Bacon Oliver Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of William Bacon Oliver 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 Black Warrier near Tuscaloosa.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 790 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,821 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 06/14/2023.
At 67 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Alabama |
| County | Tuscaloosa |
| Nearest City | Tuscaloosa |
| River/Stream | Black Warrier |
| Coordinates | 33.20877, -87.59275 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,340 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 790 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,821 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 52,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL01981 |
| Federal ID | AL01981 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |