Poverty Point Reservoir Dam dam
Poverty Point Reservoir Dam
Poverty Point Reservoir Dam, located in Delhi, Louisiana, is a state-regulated structure designed by DENMON ENGINEERING CO. The dam, completed in 1998, serves primarily for recreation and water supply purposes, holding a maximum storage capacity of 31,000 acre-feet. With a height of 42 feet and a hydraulic height of 39.95 feet, the earth-type dam spans a length of 25,650 feet along Bayou Macon, covering a surface area of 2,460 acres and draining a 6.57 square mile watershed area.
Maintaining a controlled spillway with a width of 80 feet, the dam's hazard potential is considered high, with a fair condition assessment as of July 2020. Despite its risk level, the dam has not been modified in recent years and features a slide gate for outlet control. The risk assessment for Poverty Point Reservoir Dam ranks as very high (1), highlighting the importance of ongoing inspection and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of this critical water resource infrastructure in Richland, Louisiana.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Poverty Point Reservoir Dam offers a fascinating study in engineering and environmental management. As a key structure along Bayou Macon, the dam plays a vital role in providing recreational opportunities and water supply for the region, while also presenting challenges in terms of its high hazard potential and risk assessment rating. Monitoring and maintenance efforts by the state regulatory agency, LA DOTD, are essential to safeguarding the dam and surrounding areas from potential risks and ensuring the continued functionality of this important earth-type dam in the Vicksburg District.
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 Poverty Point Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tensas River At Tendal | 107 cfs | → |
| Boeuf River Nr Girard | 151 cfs | → |
| Bayou Lafourche Near Crew Lake | 330 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Vicksburg | 771,000 cfs | → |
| Bayou Bartholomew Near Jones | 80 cfs | → |
| Bayou Macon Nr Kilbourne | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Poverty Point Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
Track Poverty Point Reservoir 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 Poverty Point Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Poverty Point Reservoir 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 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 Poverty Point Reservoir Dam.