The maximum depth at the dam is feet 80 m. It is the deepest lake in Alabama. The three-fingered reservoir has over miles km [ 1 ] of shoreline, and at full pool has a level of feet m. One of the largest earthen dams in the eastern United States , it stretches 2, feet m in length and reaches a maximum height of feet 91 m. Construction began on November 25, , and the dam entered service on September 5, 63 years ago The western side of Smith Lake is partially surrounded by William B.
Bankhead which offers camping along the lake's shoreline. Tourist attractions are: Indian head cliff jump 30 ft , Castle Rock 40β50 ft , and the Castle. Due to the demand of coal along the Black Warrior River in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, a series of locks and dams was added north of the city of Tuscaloosa. To better regulate the water levels in these locks and dams, local business leaders pressured the federal government to build a dam on the upper fork of the Sipsey Fork tributary of the Black Warrior River.
The planned lake would also provide additional power to the surrounding area during peak hours as well as provide a source of recreational income to the otherwise sparsely populated area. For the first 20 years, the lake remained relatively undeveloped. During the s and s the lake saw a rapid growth in recreation due to proximity to Birmingham and Huntsville. Today the lake is used primarily for recreation. However, during the summer, its power plant is used during peak loads.
Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Man-made reservoir in Alabama, United States. History [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Archived from the original on January 10, Retrieved May 7, US Forest Service. Retrieved September 26, Alabama Power Shorelines. Retrieved December 10, Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved June 1, United States portal Water portal Renewable energy portal.
Authority control databases. United States Israel. Hidden categories: Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas Webarchive template wayback links Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata Use mdy dates from October Coordinates on Wikidata Articles using infobox body of water without alt Articles using infobox body of water without image bathymetry.
