Bayou Bonne Idee Dam
Bayou Bonne Idee Dam is an earth dam located in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, built in 1956. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bayou Bonne Idee Dam
The primary purpose of Bayou Bonne Idee Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bayou Bonne Idee Gravity Drainage District (local government). It impounds the Bayou Bonne Idee near Oak Ridge.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 670 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 62 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/16/2025.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Morehouse |
| Nearest City | Oak Ridge |
| River/Stream | Bayou Bonne Idee |
| Coordinates | 32.66163, -91.71497 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 670 acres |
| Drainage Area | 62 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bayou Bonne Idee Gravity Drainage District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00259 |
| Federal ID | LA00259 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |