Little River Closure Dam dam
Little River Closure Dam
The Little River Closure Dam, located in Jonesville, Louisiana, was constructed in 1972 primarily for navigation on the Black River and recreation at Catahoula Lake. With a height of 55 feet and a length of 700 feet, the dam serves as a vital structure for regulating water flow and managing the risk of flooding in the area. While the dam's purpose does not directly involve flood risk management, its potential failure could impact Catahoula Lake and the Black River, necessitating close monitoring and risk assessment.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has classified the risk of failure associated with the Little River Closure Dam as very low. Despite its strong construction, the dam is periodically assessed for any potential concerns that could lead to failure during rare events. USACE has implemented risk management measures such as replacing deteriorated joint filler and developing an Emergency Action Plan to address any vulnerabilities and ensure timely response in case of an emergency. Close coordination with various agencies and regular inspections contribute to the overall safety and reliability of the dam.
In the event of a breach or failure of the Little River Closure Dam, flood waters would be contained within the banks of the Little River and managed through the Catahoula Lake Control Structure. While the dam's failure would mainly result in the destruction of the structure itself, minimal impacts on life and navigation benefits are anticipated. USACE's proactive approach to risk management and emergency preparedness underscores their commitment to safeguarding the surrounding communities and water resources.
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 Little River Closure Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Rochelle | 412 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Pollock | 17 cfs | → |
| Bayou Des Glaises Diversion Ch. At Moreauville | 919 cfs | → |
| (Coe) Atchafalaya River At Simmesport | 177,000 cfs | → |
| Dugdemona River Near Joyce | 36 cfs | → |
| Bayou Cocodrie Nr Clearwater | 310 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little River Closure Dam.
Boat launches
Track Little River Closure 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 Little River Closure Dam
Where does the data for Little River Closure 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 Low 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 Little River Closure Dam.