Columbia Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 90 ft90 ft tall and 590 ft long, taller than 97% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Columbia Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Columbia Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Vicksburg District (federal). It impounds the Ouachita River near Columbia.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,070 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 156,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15,630 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/10/2021.
At 90 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Caldwell |
| Nearest City | Columbia |
| River/Stream | Ouachita River |
| Coordinates | 32.16680, -92.11043 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 590 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 156,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 156,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 94,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,070 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15,630 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 120,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Vicksburg District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00177 |
| Federal ID | LA00177 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |