Horseshoe Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 680 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 Horseshoe Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Horseshoe Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Morehouse Parish Police Jury (local government). It impounds the Bayou Bonne Idee near Oak Ridge.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 680 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 162 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 970 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. 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 03/19/2025.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Morehouse |
| Nearest City | Oak Ridge |
| River/Stream | Bayou Bonne Idee |
| Coordinates | 32.71167, -91.70854 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 680 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 970 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 970 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 565 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 162 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 140 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Morehouse Parish Police Jury |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00258 |
| Federal ID | LA00258 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |