CULLMAN, Ala. – Anglers using Lake Catoma no longer have to pick their way across slick, uneven riprap to reach their boats following the completion of a new courtesy dock at the reservoir.
The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center joined Cullman Utilities and community leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Aug. 31, at the Lake Catoma boat launch. The dock is intended to provide a safer transition between the launch ramp and the water.
Cullman Diabetes Center sponsored the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Before the dock was installed, launching a boat could require an awkward and potentially hazardous routine. Boaters often had to pull their vessels against the rock-lined shore, cross the riprap to secure them, park their vehicles and trailers and then make their way across the rocks again to board.
Wet surfaces, changing water levels and unstable footing made the process particularly difficult. Officials said reports of near-misses and safety concerns raised by lake users helped demonstrate the need for a better access point.
Cullman Water Treatment Plant Manager Brian Styles said the improvement should make a significant difference for those who regularly use the launch.
“It’s going to be a very valuable asset,” Styles said during the ceremony.
The courtesy dock gives boaters a stable place to board and exit their vessels, as well as a safer place to secure a boat while moving a vehicle and trailer.
Construction was completed in approximately two weeks by Cullman-based Flotation Systems Inc., a company located along Alabama Highway 69 South that specializes in aluminum dock systems. Project leaders said selecting a local company allowed the Utilities Board to obtain specialized craftsmanship while keeping the work within the Cullman community.
Although modest in size, the project serves one of Cullman’s most important pieces of infrastructure.
Constructed in the mid-1960s to meet the area’s growing water needs, Lake Catoma remains the city of Cullman’s primary drinking-water source. The reservoir covers more than 500 acres within the Eightmile Creek watershed and supplies water to residents, businesses and portions of surrounding counties.
Cullman’s Water Treatment Plant also can draw from Duck River Reservoir or blend water from the two sources depending on water quality and treatment needs. Lake Catoma continues to serve as an important safeguard during droughts and periods of increased demand.
Because Lake Catoma is first and foremost a drinking-water reservoir, it is not managed like a conventional recreational lake. Swimming, wading and water skiing are prohibited, recreational use is limited and boat motors are restricted to 25 horsepower.
The new courtesy dock does not change those protections. Instead, it improves access for fishing and other activities already permitted under the city’s rules.
“Duck River and Lake Catoma have more stringent ordinances and regulations than somewhere like Smith Lake,” Styles told The Tribune during a November 2025 lake cleanup. He said the stricter rules reflect the reservoirs’ role in supplying drinking water and the need to meet environmental and safety requirements.
Anglers also should be aware of Alabama’s current fish-consumption guidance. The Alabama Department of Public Health’s 2026 advisory recommends that people not eat largemouth bass caught in Lake Catoma’s lower reservoir and forebay area because of mercury levels.
The advisory concerns eating the fish and does not prohibit fishing or catch-and-release activity.
Following the ribbon-cutting, the Chamber thanked the Cullman Utilities Board for its work and investment in the project.
“Projects like this continue to enhance our community and provide new opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy everything Cullman has to offer,” the Chamber stated.
For Lake Catoma’s regular anglers, that opportunity now begins with something simple but important: a secure place to step between land and boat.
