Sowashee Creek Ws Str No 2 Dam
Sowashee Creek Ws Str No 2 Dam is an earth dam located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Sowashee Creek Ws Str No 2 Dam
The primary purpose of Sowashee Creek Ws Str No 2 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 Bill Wyckoff (local government). It impounds the Curtis Branch.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,121 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 11/22/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 |
| River/Stream | Curtis Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.38597, -88.59978 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,121 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,121 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,766 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BILL WYCKOFF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03253 |
| Federal ID | MS03253 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |