Cane River Lake Dam Lower Embankment is an earth dam located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 540 ft long, taller than 89% 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 Cane River Lake Dam Lower Embankment
The primary purpose of Cane River Lake Dam Lower Embankment is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by State of Louisiana (local government). It impounds the Lower Cane River near Colfax.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 02/11/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Louisiana |
| County | Natchitoches |
| Nearest City | Colfax |
| River/Stream | Lower Cane River |
| Coordinates | 31.50910, -92.74029 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | State of Louisiana |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | LA00708 |
| Federal ID | LA00708 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |