Lay Dam is a hydroelectric power dam on the Coosa River in Chilton County and Coosa County, near Clanton, Alabama.[2]

Lay Dam
Lay Dam, Coosa River, Alabama
Lay Dam is located in Alabama
Lay Dam
Oroville Dam
Lay Dam is located in the United States
Lay Dam
Lay Dam (the United States)
CountryUnited States
LocationClanton, Alabama
Coordinates32°57′49″N 86°31′00″W / 32.96372°N 86.51670°W / 32.96372; -86.51670
PurposeWater Supply, flood control, power
StatusOperational
Construction began1914
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsCoosa River
Power Station
Coordinates
DesignatedFebruary 19, 1976[1]

The concrete run-of-the-river gravity dam was built in 1914 as the first major project of Alabama Power Company, and named for Captain William Patrick Lay, its first president. The dam's hydroelectric facility has a generating capacity of 177 megawatts (237,000 hp).[2]

The construction of the dam flooded the original site of Fort Williams, which was used during the Creek War.[3]

Lay Lake

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Lay Lake covers 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) and has a shoreline about 289 miles (465 km) long.[2] It is a recreational lake with fishing opportunities for large mouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and other sunfish, crappie, catfish, striped bass, hybrid and white bass. Lay Lake has hosted the Bassmaster Classic four times: 1996, 2002, 2007, and 2010.[4] Alabama Power maintains seven public access sites on the lake.

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References

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  1. ^ "Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Listings as of April 7, 2023" (PDF). ahc.alabama.gov. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Tharpe, Bill. "Lay Dam and Lake". encyclopediaofalabama.org, January 7, 2009, updated October 5, 2010.
  3. ^ Brannon, Michael (28 February 2017). "Historic Marker Series: Fort Williams". Sylacauga News. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Lay Lake in Alabama's Shelby County Tapped as Fishery for 2010 Bassmaster Classic | Lay Lake News". www.laylake.info.