Cypress Bayou No 1 dam
Cypress Bayou No 1
Cypress Bayou No 1, also known as "The Ski Lake," is a local government-owned dam located in Plain Dealing, Bossier, Louisiana. Built in 1959 by USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. It spans a length of 2740 feet and has a storage capacity of 2400 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 815 acre-feet.
With a hazard potential rated as high and a fair condition assessment as of June 2020, Cypress Bayou No 1 is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for inspections, permitting, and enforcement. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 12 feet. The dam's purpose also includes fish and wildlife pond creation and recreational use, making it a vital asset for water resource management in the area. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and enhancing the local ecosystem.
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 Cypress Bayou No 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River At Spring Bank | 4,200 cfs | → |
| Bayou Dorcheat Near Springhill | 15 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Abv Sh 43 Nr Karnack | 178 cfs | → |
| Red Chute Bayou At Sligo | 266 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv Nr Texarkana | 921 cfs | → |
| Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cypress Bayou No 1.
Boat launches
- State Route 2 Bossier Parish
- Ar 160 Miller County
- Us 71 Miller County
- Mercer Bayou Boat Ramp
- Miller County
- County Road 109 Miller County
Campgrounds
- Highway 157 Primitive
- Teague Lake Primitive
- Ivan Lake
- Cypress Black Bayou Rec Area
- Frank Anthony Rv Park
- South Abutment East
Fishing spots
Track Cypress Bayou No 1 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 Cypress Bayou No 1
Where does the data for Cypress Bayou No 1 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 High 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 Cypress Bayou No 1.