Lakemont Lake Dam

Lakemont Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionUnsatisfactoryWorst of 4 · considered unsafe
Emergency action planOn file
Last inspection04/11/2023
Height21 ft
Built193096 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 21 ft
21 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

21 ft tall and 490 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 Lakemont Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Lakemont Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lakemont Civic Improvment Corp. (private). It impounds the Sowashee Creek near Meridian.

The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 04/11/2023.

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

StateMississippi
CountyLauderdale
Nearest CityMeridian
River/StreamSowashee Creek
Coordinates32.34712, -88.69117

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height21 ft
Dam Height21 ft
Dam Length490 ft
Year Completed1930 (96 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage120 acre-ft
Max Storage120 acre-ft
Normal Storage99 acre-ft
Surface Area9 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerLakemont Civic Improvment Corp.
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentUnsatisfactory
Last Inspection04/11/2023
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMS02667
Federal IDMS02667
More InfoState Dam Safety Program