Upper Leaf River Structure 9 Dam
Upper Leaf River Structure 9 Dam is an earth dam located in Smith County, Mississippi, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Leaf River Structure 9 Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Leaf River Structure 9 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 owned by Upper Leaf River Water Management District (local government). It impounds the Nelse Branch near Raleigh (upstream).
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,077 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 03/10/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Smith |
| Nearest City | Raleigh (upstream) |
| River/Stream | Nelse Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.03537, -89.49947 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,077 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,077 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 201 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,311 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | UPPER LEAF RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS02784 |
| Federal ID | MS02784 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |