List of dam removals in Alabama

This is a list of dams in Alabama that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

The Eagle & Phenix Dam on the Chattahoochee River prior to its demolition in 2012.

Completed removals

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Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Unnamed dam 2007 Hanceville
34°03′20″N 86°45′21″W / 34.0555°N 86.7558°W / 34.0555; -86.7558
Mud Creek Black Warrior River Dam was illegally constructed by Hanceville Water and Sewer to capture raw sewage leaking from a wastewater treatment plant.[2]
Old Shadow Lake Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 2013 Pinson
33°40′58″N 86°38′47″W / 33.6828°N 86.6464°W / 33.6828; -86.6464 (Old Shadow Lake Dam)
Turkey Creek Dam built for swimming. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with the Freshwater Land Trust to remove the dam, which had blocked passage of the endangered vermilion darter.[3][4]
Marvel Slab Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 2004 Montevallo
33°09′56″N 87°01′46″W / 33.1656°N 87.0294°W / 33.1656; -87.0294 (Marvel Slab Dam)
Cahaba River Cahaba River Dam consisted of 46 culverts under a bridge that allowed coal and logging trucks and coal mining equipment to cross the river.[5]
Shades Branch Steel Ford 2011 West Blocton
33°13′16″N 87°01′46″W / 33.221°N 87.0295°W / 33.221; -87.0295 (Shades Branch Steel Ford)
Shades Branch
Goodwins Mill Dam[6] 15 ft (4.6 m) 2013 St. Clair County
33°49′11″N 86°23′08″W / 33.8197°N 86.3855°W / 33.8197; -86.3855 (Goodwins Mill Dam)
Big Canoe Creek Coosa River Grist mill dam.
Unnamed dam 2022 Etowah County
34°00′21″N 86°04′08″W / 34.0059°N 86.0688°W / 34.0059; -86.0688
Big Wills Creek
Eagle & Phenix Dam[7] 17 ft (5.2 m) 2012 Phenix City
32°28′11″N 84°59′51″W / 32.4698°N 84.9976°W / 32.4698; -84.9976 (Eagle & Phenix Dam)
Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River Dam powered the defunct Eagle and Phenix textile mill. National Inventory of Dams ID GA05180.
City Mills Dam[7] 10 ft (3.0 m) 2013 Phenix City
32°28′48″N 84°59′40″W / 32.4801°N 84.9944°W / 32.4801; -84.9944 (City Mills Dam)
Hydropower dam.
Unnamed dam 2010 Seale
32°21′50″N 85°07′18″W / 32.364°N 85.1216°W / 32.364; -85.1216
Uchee Creek
Howle and Turner Dam[8] 16 ft (4.9 m) 2019 Cleburne County
33°33′07″N 85°36′43″W / 33.552°N 85.612°W / 33.552; -85.612 (Howle and Turner Dam)
Tallapoosa River Tallapoosa River Dam built for a grist mill and cotton gin, owned by Heflin Waterworks and Sewer Board/Tyson Corp.
Livingston Dam 2019 Livingston
32°35′19″N 88°11′51″W / 32.5885°N 88.1975°W / 32.5885; -88.1975 (Livingston Dam)
Sucarnoochee River Tombigbee River Water supply dam abandoned by 1994.[9]

Planned and proposed removals

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Dam Expected year Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Langdale Dam Chambers County
32°48′56″N 85°09′55″W / 32.8156°N 85.1653°W / 32.8156; -85.1653 (Langdale Dam)
Chatahoochee River Chatahoochee River In 2018, Georgia Power filed to decommission and remove the outdated hydroelectric dams.[10]
Riverview Dam Chambers County
32°47′34″N 85°08′35″W / 32.7928°N 85.1431°W / 32.7928; -85.1431 (Riverview Dam)

References

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  1. ^ Rivers, American (13 February 2023). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v10. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ Williamson, Karen (23 August 2007). "Dam removed". The Cullman Times. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  3. ^ Songer, Joe (20 November 2013). "Turkey Creek section restored after dam removal (photos, video and time lapse)". al.com. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. ^ Pillion, Dennis (16 November 2017). "Endangered Alabama fish confirmed in new area". al.com. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. ^ Nijhuis, Michelle (August 2009). "The Cahaba: A River of Riches". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  6. ^ Pillion, Dennis (27 October 2015). "Big Canoe Creek flowing free after dam removed". al.com. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b Chitwood, Tim; Stevens, Tiffany (12 March 2013). "UPDATE: City Mills dam blast bigger than Eagle & Phenix". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. ^ Wilson, Bill (4 June 2019). "Dam on Tallapoosa River being removed this week". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  9. ^ Pillion, Dennis (24 April 2019). "Alabama river flows free after dam removal". al.com.
  10. ^ Trahan, Cole (19 February 2022). "Georgia Power looks to remove dams along the Chattahoochee". Valley Times-News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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