West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lamar County, Mississippi, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About West Lake Dam
The primary purpose of West Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by West Lake Manor Property Owner's Association (private). It impounds the Unt Of Bowie River near Hattiesburg.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 318 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/16/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Mississippi dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Lamar |
| Nearest City | Hattiesburg |
| River/Stream | Unt Of Bowie River |
| Coordinates | 31.30872, -89.36650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 318 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 318 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 222 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,360 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WEST LAKE MANOR PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS00700 |
| Federal ID | MS00700 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |