Lake Claiborne
Lake Claiborne is an earth dam located in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Claiborne
The primary purpose of Lake Claiborne is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission (local government). It impounds the Bayou Darbonne near Aycock.
The dam stands 82 feet tall and stretches 5,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 133 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 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 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 09/10/2024.
At 82 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 Louisiana 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 | Louisiana |
| County | Claiborne |
| Nearest City | Aycock |
| River/Stream | Bayou Darbonne |
| Coordinates | 32.74078, -92.90285 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 99,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 133 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 45,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00011 |
| Federal ID | LA00011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |