Oden Lake Dam dam
Oden Lake Dam
Oden Lake Dam, located in Rapides, Louisiana, serves as a vital structure for recreational purposes along the Rocky Bayou. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and stretches 975 feet in length. With a normal storage capacity of 980 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 1176 acre-feet, it provides a serene surface area of 196 acres for visitors to enjoy various water activities.
Managed by a private owner, Oden Lake Dam is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Despite being classified as having low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and overall safety. With an uncontrolled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 135 cubic feet per second, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience within the region.
Although the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, its risk assessment remains moderate. The lack of emergency action plans and inundation maps highlights potential areas for improvement in terms of disaster preparedness. As a key feature in the Vicksburg District, Oden Lake Dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management and serves as a beloved recreational spot for locals and visitors alike.
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 Oden Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Cocodrie Nr Clearwater | 410 cfs | → |
| Calcasieu River Nr Glenmora | 290 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Pollock | 123 cfs | → |
| Bayou Des Glaises Diversion Ch. At Moreauville | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Rochelle | 980 cfs | → |
| Whiskey Chitto Creek Near Oberlin | 413 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oden Lake Dam.
Track Oden Lake 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 Oden Lake Dam
Where does the data for Oden Lake 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 Oden Lake Dam.