Phyllis Murdock Dam dam
Phyllis Murdock Dam
Phyllis Murdock Dam, located in Zwolle, Louisiana, serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife pond management and recreational activities. Completed in 1984, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 6 feet with a hydraulic height of 5 feet, stretching 500 feet in length and providing a storage capacity of 134 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to support fish and wildlife habitats, while also offering recreational opportunities for the local community.
Despite its important role in supporting the local ecosystem, Phyllis Murdock Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, which regulates and inspects its operations to ensure public safety. The last inspection in May 2019 revealed the dam's deteriorating condition, prompting the need for risk management measures to address potential safety concerns.
As an essential component of the Sabine, Louisiana landscape, Phyllis Murdock Dam requires ongoing attention and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a history of poor condition, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize the rehabilitation and upkeep of this dam to safeguard its surrounding environment and preserve its recreational and ecological benefits for future generations.
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 Phyllis Murdock Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou San Patricio Near Benson | 3 cfs | → |
| Bayou Toro Near Toro | 85 cfs | → |
| Bayou Pierre Near Lake End | 46 cfs | → |
| Bayou Grand Cane Near Stanley | · | → |
| Sabine Rv At Toledo Bd Res Nr Burkeville | 336 cfs | → |
| Ayish Bayou Nr San Augustine | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phyllis Murdock Dam.
Track Phyllis Murdock 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 Phyllis Murdock Dam
Where does the data for Phyllis Murdock 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 Phyllis Murdock Dam.