Bussy Brake Lake is an earth dam located in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 41,200 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 Bussy Brake Lake
The primary purpose of Bussy Brake Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (state). It impounds the Bussy Brake near Bastrop.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 41,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 39,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. 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 11/28/2023.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Morehouse |
| Nearest City | Bastrop |
| River/Stream | Bussy Brake |
| Coordinates | 32.84507, -91.93510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 41,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 39,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 39,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 486 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00705 |
| Federal ID | LA00705 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |