Joe Mitcham Dam is an earth dam located in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 815 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Joe Mitcham Dam
The primary purpose of Joe Mitcham Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mitcham Farms LLC (private). It impounds the Tr-cypress Creek near Ruston.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 815 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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 03/09/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Lincoln |
| Nearest City | Ruston |
| River/Stream | Tr-cypress Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.56352, -92.67752 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 815 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 333 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mitcham Farms LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00438 |
| Federal ID | LA00438 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |