Smithport Lake Dam

Smithport Lake Dam is an earth dam located in De Soto Parish, Louisiana, built in 1953. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.

About Smithport Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Smithport Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bayou Pierre Game And Fish Commission (local government). It impounds the Samson Channel near Grand Bayou.

The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 2,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,028 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 42,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 205 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/22/2024.

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Low HazardUnsatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateLouisiana
CountyDe Soto
Nearest CityGrand Bayou
River/StreamSamson Channel
Coordinates32.11634, -93.56413

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height18 ft
Dam Height18 ft
Dam Length2,500 ft
Year Completed1953 (73 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage42,000 acre-ft
Max Storage42,000 acre-ft
Normal Storage11,500 acre-ft
Surface Area3,028 acres
Drainage Area205 sq mi
Max Discharge40,500 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerBayou Pierre Game and Fish Commission
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentUnsatisfactory
Last Inspection10/22/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDLA00028
Federal IDLA00028
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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