Bayou Cocodrie Dam
Bayou Cocodrie Dam is an earth dam located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bayou Cocodrie Dam
The primary purpose of Bayou Cocodrie Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by State Of Louisiana (local government). It impounds the Bayou Cocodrie near Clearwater.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 240 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 11/16/2022.
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 | Evangeline |
| Nearest City | Clearwater |
| River/Stream | Bayou Cocodrie |
| Coordinates | 31.00138, -92.38263 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 100,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 100,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 240 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | State of Louisiana |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00012 |
| Federal ID | LA00012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |