Jamie L. Whitten Lock And Dam
Jamie L. Whitten Lock And Dam is an earth dam located in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Jamie L. Whitten Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Jamie L. Whitten Lock And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Mobile District (federal). It impounds the Tombigbee near Tupelo.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 2,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 04/07/2021.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Tishomingo |
| Nearest City | Tupelo |
| River/Stream | Tombigbee |
| Coordinates | 34.52296, -88.32534 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 180,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 67 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 750,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Mobile District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03605 |
| Federal ID | MS03605 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |