Turkey Creek Water Park Dam
Turkey Creek Water Park Dam is an earth dam located in Newton County, Mississippi, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Turkey Creek Water Park Dam
The primary purpose of Turkey Creek Water Park 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 Pat Harrison Waterway District (state). It impounds the Turkey Creek near Hickory.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 260 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,526 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2023.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Newton |
| Nearest City | Hickory |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.40093, -89.15644 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,526 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,526 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,429 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 260 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,135 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | PAT HARRISON WATERWAY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03053 |
| Federal ID | MS03053 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |