R. L. Harris West Saddle Dike is an earth dam located in Randolph County, Alabama, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 800 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 R. L. Harris West Saddle Dike
The primary purpose of R. L. Harris West Saddle Dike 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 Wadley.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10,661 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 426,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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. 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 06/15/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Randolph |
| Nearest City | Wadley |
| River/Stream | Tallapoosa River |
| Coordinates | 33.25741, -85.60882 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 426,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 426,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 426,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10,661 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Alabama Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AL83001 |
| Federal ID | AL83001S001 |
| More Info | ASDSO on Alabama (no state dam safety program) |