Robert Free Pond #2

Robert Free Pond #2 is an earth dam located in Dallas County, Alabama, built in 1997. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNone on file
Last inspectionNot reported
Height13 ft
Built199729 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 13 ft
13 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

13 ft tall and 1,800 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 Robert Free Pond #2

The primary purpose of Robert Free Pond #2 is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Robert Free (private). It impounds the Big Swamp Creek near Orrville.

The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 92 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 years 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.

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

StateAlabama
CountyDallas
Nearest CityOrrville
River/StreamBig Swamp Creek
Coordinates32.33472, -87.17500

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height13 ft
Dam Height13 ft
Dam Length1,800 ft
Year Completed1997 (29 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage92 acre-ft
Max Storage92 acre-ft
Normal Storage51 acre-ft
Surface Area14 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge60 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFish and Wildlife Pond
OwnerRobert Free
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDAL02527
Federal IDAL02527
More InfoASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program)