Crescent Lake Dam
Crescent Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Crescent Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Crescent Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kenneth Motill (private). It impounds the Gay Branch.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,230 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2023.
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
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Lauderdale |
| River/Stream | Gay Branch |
| Coordinates | 32.30280, -88.66932 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,230 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 558 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | KENNETH MOTILL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS02697 |
| Federal ID | MS02697 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |