Wham Brake Lake
Wham Brake Lake is an earth dam located in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wham Brake Lake
The primary purpose of Wham Brake Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Louisiana Department Of Wildlife And Fisheries (state). It impounds the Little Bayou Boeuf near Swartz.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 30,648 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,950 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 63 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 11/28/2023.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Ouachita |
| Nearest City | Swartz |
| River/Stream | Little Bayou Boeuf |
| Coordinates | 32.57191, -91.93494 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 30,648 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,850 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,950 acres |
| Drainage Area | 63 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,210 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00706 |
| Federal ID | LA00706 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |