Dams & Impoundments

There are six Alabama Power dams on the Coosa River which hold back six recreational lakes used for fishing, lakehomes, and boating. These lakes, north to south, are Weiss Lake, H. Neely Henry Lake, Lake Logan Martin, Lay Lake, Lake Martin, and Lake Jordan. These dams were constructed in the 21st century and rapidly converted a fast-moving river into a series of artificial, privatized lakes. The construction of the dams also sent 36 species into extinction. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, this is the greatest extinction event in modern North American history. Alabama ranks 2nd in the nation in species extinction and habitat loss due to stream impoundment is a major reason for this ranking.

Logan Martin Dam holds back Lake Logan Martin

The total generating capacity of the 6 dams on the Coosa is 960,900 kW. None of these dams have locks, and therefore it is not possible to navigate from one lake to the other by boat. Paddlers interested in paddling the entire river must portage around the dams. Information on portaging around the dams can be found on the website of Alabama Scenic River Trail.

Alabama Power is currently in the process of relicensing all the Coosa dams. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) relicensing of Alabama Power’s seven dams is the first chance in 50 years to improve river conditions for the 21 federally listed species in the area, as well as for the people living along the river. FERC has refused to require Alabama Power Company to conduct critical studies that would overturn FERC’s presumption that the project does not have significant environmental impact. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be given the opportunity to assess the project’s real impact on endangered species before FERC issues a new license.