Big Bay Lake Dam
Big Bay Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lamar County, Mississippi, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Bay Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Big Bay Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jan Hammond (private). It impounds the Bay Creek near N/a.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 1,890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 968 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 29,815 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 2010, the structure is relatively new.
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 04/01/2022.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Lamar |
| Nearest City | N/a |
| River/Stream | Bay Creek |
| Coordinates | 31.18250, -89.57131 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,890 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29,815 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29,815 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,107 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 968 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,033 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | JAN HAMMOND |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS03753 |
| Federal ID | MS03753 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |