Kemper County Lake Dam
Kemper County Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kemper County, Mississippi, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kemper County Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kemper County Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Drew Robertson (state). It impounds the Little Minnow Creek near De Kalb.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,310 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 652 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,545 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2022.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Kemper |
| Nearest City | De Kalb |
| River/Stream | Little Minnow Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.81084, -88.71591 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,310 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,545 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,545 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,898 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 652 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DREW ROBERTSON |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03085 |
| Federal ID | MS03085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |