Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, built in 1985. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 122 ft122 ft tall and 2,063 ft long, taller than 98% 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 Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. 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 Red River near Simmesport.
The dam stands 122 feet tall and stretches 2,063 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,620 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 59,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67,550 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 11/22/2022.
At 122 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Caddo |
| Nearest City | Simmesport |
| River/Stream | Red River |
| Coordinates | 32.25048, -93.49524 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,063 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 43,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,620 acres |
| Drainage Area | 67,550 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 255,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Vicksburg District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00580 |
| Federal ID | LA00580 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |