Lay Dam

{{Infobox dam

| name = Lay Dam

| name_official =

| image_caption = Lay Dam, Coosa River, Alabama

| image_alt =

| location_map_caption = Oroville Dam

| location_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{Coord|32.96372|-86.51670|format=dms|display=title,inline|type:landmark}}

| country = United States

| location = Clanton, Alabama

| purpose = Water supply, flood control, power

| status = O

| construction_began = 1914

| opening =

| demolished =

| cost =

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| operator =

| dam_type =

| dam_crosses = Coosa River

| dam_height_foundation =

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_length =

| dam_elevation_crest =

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| image = Lay Dam Coosa River Alabama.jpg

| image_size =

| location_map = USA Alabama#USA

| location_map_size = 200

| plant_coordinates =

{{Infobox historic site

| embed = yes

| name =

| designation1 = Alabama Register

| designation1_offname =

| designation1_date = February 19, 1976{{cite web |title=Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Listings as of April 7, 2023 |url=https://ahc.alabama.gov/AlabamaRegisterPDFs/Alabama%20Register%20of%20Landmarks%20&%20Heritage%20Property%20Listing%20(for%20web1).pdf |website=ahc.alabama.gov |access-date=31 January 2024}}

| designation1_number = }}

}}

Lay Dam is a hydroelectric power dam on the Coosa River in Chilton County and Coosa County, near Clanton, Alabama.Tharpe, Bill. [http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1904 "Lay Dam and Lake"]. encyclopediaofalabama.org, January 7, 2009, updated October 5, 2010.

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 {{convert|177|MW}}.

The construction of the dam flooded the original site of Fort Williams, which was used during the Creek War.{{cite news |last1=Brannon |first1=Michael |title=Historic Marker Series: Fort Williams |url=https://www.sylacauganews.com/local/historic-marker-series-fort-williams |accessdate=13 February 2020 |work=Sylacauga News |date=28 February 2017}}

==Lay Lake==

Lay Lake covers {{convert|12000|acre}} and has a shoreline about {{convert|289|mi}} long. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.laylake.info/News/Article.asp?ID=CBA144E6-14A3-48E0-808A-A042CACD3824|title=Lay Lake in Alabama's Shelby County Tapped as Fishery for 2010 Bassmaster Classic | Lay Lake News|website=www.laylake.info}} Alabama Power maintains seven public access sites on the lake.