Wham Brake Lake dam
Wham Brake Lake
Wham Brake Lake, located in Ouachita, Louisiana, is a state-regulated recreational lake with a low hazard potential but a very high risk assessment due to its proximity to the Little Bayou Boeuf. Built in 1950 by Ducks Unlimited, International Paper, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, this earth dam stands at 10 feet tall and stretches over 30,000 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 34,650 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 14,850 acre-feet, Wham Brake Lake covers a surface area of 4,950 acres and has a drainage area of 63.6 square miles.
This controlled spillway lake features a spillway width of 270 feet and vertical lift outlet gates. Although last inspected in 2018 and deemed to be in fair condition, Wham Brake Lake is subject to regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Despite its low hazard potential, the lake's risk assessment is categorized as very high, suggesting the need for continued risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam structure and surrounding area. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wham Brake Lake offers a fascinating case study in the intersection of recreational water management, environmental risk assessment, and dam infrastructure in the southern United States.
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 Wham Brake Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Lafourche Near Crew Lake | 2,290 cfs | → |
| Boeuf River Nr Girard | 203 cfs | → |
| Chemin-A-Haut Byu Nr Beekman | 1 cfs | → |
| Bayou Bartholomew Near Jones | 26 cfs | → |
| Tensas River At Tendal | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Little Corney Bayou Near Lillie | 246 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wham Brake Lake.
Boat launches
- Barrett Boat Dock Road Ouachita Parish
- Forsythe Park Boat Launch
- Boardman Avenue Sterlington
- Bayou Darbonne Drive Ouachita Parish
- Holland Bluff Road Union Parish
- Heritage Drive 113, West Monroe
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Wham Brake Lake 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 Wham Brake Lake
Where does the data for Wham Brake Lake 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 Wham Brake Lake.