Black Bayou Dam dam
Black Bayou Dam
Black Bayou Dam, also known as Black Lake Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Hosston, Louisiana. Completed in 1955 by the Louisiana Department of Public Works, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for recreation and water supply purposes along the Black Bayou river. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 1400 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 46,500 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 3860 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Black Bayou Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 400 feet and outlet gates in the form of slide sluice gates. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as moderate, with a risk management plan yet to be detailed. With a history of modifications and a regular inspection frequency, Black Bayou Dam remains a key water resource for both recreational activities and local water supply needs.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Black Bayou Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River At Spring Bank | 4,200 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Abv Sh 43 Nr Karnack | 178 cfs | → |
| Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson | 42 cfs | → |
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Jefferson | 80 cfs | → |
| Bayou Dorcheat Near Springhill | 15 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv Nr Texarkana | 921 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Bayou Dam.
Boat launches
- State Route 2 Bossier Parish
- Ar 160 Miller County
- Us 71 Miller County
- Mercer Bayou Boat Ramp
- County Road 109 Miller County
- Miller County
Campgrounds
- Earl Williamson Park
- Cypress Black Bayou Rec Area
- Caddo Lake State Park
- Highway 157 Primitive
- Ivan Lake
- Teague Lake Primitive
Fishing spots
Track Black Bayou Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Black Bayou Dam
Where does the data for Black Bayou Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Black Bayou Dam.