Sowashee Creek Ws Str 11 Dam
Sowashee Creek Ws Str 11 Dam is an earth dam located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sowashee Creek Ws Str 11 Dam
The primary purpose of Sowashee Creek Ws Str 11 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 Sowashee Cr. Wtr. Mgt. Dist. (local government). It impounds the Unt Of Sowashee Creek near Marion.
The dam stands 37 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 321 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 10/24/2022.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Lauderdale |
| Nearest City | Marion |
| River/Stream | Unt Of Sowashee Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.41577, -88.63498 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 321 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 321 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | SOWASHEE CR. WTR. MGT. DIST. |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03061 |
| Federal ID | MS03061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |