University Lake is an earth dam located in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall and 2,300 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About University Lake
The primary purpose of University Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Baton Rouge, Dept. of P.w. (local government). It impounds the Bayou Duplantier Offstream near Baton Rouge.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 2,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,180 acre-feet. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/15/2025.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | East Baton Rouge |
| Nearest City | Baton Rouge |
| River/Stream | Bayou Duplantier Offstream |
| Coordinates | 30.40700, -91.16500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Max Discharge | 808 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Baton Rouge, Dept. of P.w. |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00167 |
| Federal ID | LA00167 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |