Bentonia Watershed Structure 5 Dam
Bentonia Watershed Structure 5 Dam is an earth dam located in Yazoo County, Mississippi, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bentonia Watershed Structure 5 Dam
The primary purpose of Bentonia Watershed Structure 5 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is local government-owned.
The dam stands 26 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 470 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/12/2022.
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 | Yazoo |
| Coordinates | 32.67704, -90.37707 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 470 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 470 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS01942 |
| Federal ID | MS01942 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |