Lewis Smith Dam
The Lewis M. Smith Dam is the largest earthen dam in the eastern United States. The dam, dedicated in May 1961 and put into service on September 5 of that year, is 2,200 feet long and reaches a maximum height of 300 feet. It was designed to withstand "any shock or explosion except that of a direct hit by an atomic bomb".
Located on the Sipsey Fork, the uppermost lake on the Black Warrior River near Jasper in Walker County, the dam creates Smith Lake. Built by Alabama Power, construction began on November 25, 1957 and continued for four years.
Construction of the dam submerged Clear Creek Falls near Jasper. The falls area supported a diverse habitat of Mountain laurel, white azaleas and Canadian hemlocks. Blanch Evans Dean and Herbert McCullough led naturalists' protests of the site's destruction, but were unsuccessful.
References
- Beiman, Irving (May 1961) "Huge Smith Dam will be dedicated on next Tuesday" The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Darr, Doug (2008) Fish and Fishing in Smith Lake. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- "Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring of Alabama's Reservoirs: Volume 1: Lewis Smith Lake" (October 1999) Alabama Water Watch
- "Lewis Smith Lake" (February 23, 2008) Wikipedia - accessed April 7, 2008
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External links
- Lewis Smith Lake at outdooralabama.com
| Black Warrior River | |
|---|---|
| Dams |
Bankhead Lock and Dam, Holt Lock and Dam, Oliver Lock and Dam, Lewis Smith Dam, Warrior Lock and Dam |
| Reservoirs |
Bankhead Lake, Holt Lake, Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Oliver, Smith Lake, Inland Lake, Highland Lake, Warrior Lake |
| Tributaries |
Blackburn Fork, Locust Fork, Mulberry Fork, North River, Sipsey Fork, Valley Creek, Village Creek |