Betty Thomas Dam dam
Betty Thomas Dam
Betty Thomas Dam in Rapides, Louisiana is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1957 for recreational purposes. Located on the TR-CLEAR BAYOU stream, the dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a structural height of 30 feet and a length of 870 feet. With a storage capacity of 444 acre-feet, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities, covering a surface area of 14.8 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Betty Thomas Dam is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement measures are in place to maintain safety. With an uncontrolled spillway width of 180 feet, the dam has a moderate risk assessment level and an inspection frequency of 5 years. While there have been no major modifications to the dam in recent years, it continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities for the local community.
Overall, Betty Thomas Dam is a vital water resource in Rapides County, offering both recreational enjoyment and essential flood control measures. As an earth dam with a mix of buttress and stone core types, it stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Louisiana. With its picturesque location and moderate risk level, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for the region, contributing to both environmental conservation and public recreation.
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 Betty Thomas Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Pollock | 17 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Rochelle | 412 cfs | → |
| Bayou Des Glaises Diversion Ch. At Moreauville | 919 cfs | → |
| Bayou Cocodrie Nr Clearwater | 310 cfs | → |
| (Coe) Atchafalaya River At Simmesport | 177,000 cfs | → |
| Calcasieu River Nr Glenmora | 169 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Betty Thomas Dam.
Track Betty Thomas 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 Betty Thomas Dam
Where does the data for Betty Thomas 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 Betty Thomas Dam.