Oktibbeha County Lake Dam
Oktibbeha County Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Oktibbeha County Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Oktibbeha County Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oktibbeha Co. Board Of Supervisors (local government). It impounds the Biba Wita Creek near Starkville.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 4,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 479 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,430 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/2022.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Mississippi dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Oktibbeha |
| Nearest City | Starkville |
| River/Stream | Biba Wita Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.50699, -88.93196 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,430 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,430 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,406 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 479 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,305 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | OKTIBBEHA CO. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS00338 |
| Federal ID | MS00338 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |