Okatibbee Dam
Okatibbee Dam is a gravity dam located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Okatibbee Dam
The primary purpose of Okatibbee Dam 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 Usace - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Okatibbee Creek near Meridian.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 6,620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,800 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 59,481 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 153 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/03/2021.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Lauderdale |
| Nearest City | Meridian |
| River/Stream | Okatibbee Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.47500, -88.79833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59,481 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59,481 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 46,538 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,800 acres |
| Drainage Area | 153 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS01491 |
| Federal ID | MS01491 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |