White Cypress Lake Dam
White Cypress Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hancock County, Mississippi, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About White Cypress Lake Dam
The primary purpose of White Cypress Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by White Cypress Lake Homeowners Association (private). It impounds the Unt Of White Cypress Creek near Necaise.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,383 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 119 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,238 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/27/2023.
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 | Hancock |
| Nearest City | Necaise |
| River/Stream | Unt Of White Cypress Creek |
| Coordinates | 30.55365, -89.46389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,383 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,238 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,238 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,174 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 119 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,591 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WHITE CYPRESS LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03713 |
| Federal ID | MS03713 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |