Pennell Lake Dam dam
Pennell Lake Dam
Pennell Lake Dam, located in Oktibbeha, Mississippi, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreational purposes. This earth dam, with a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, serves as a low hazard potential asset in the region. While the dam is uncontrolled spillway type, it is under state regulation by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring its safety and compliance with inspection and enforcement protocols.
Despite not being rated for its condition, Pennell Lake Dam presents a moderate risk (level 3) according to assessments. The dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks emergency action plans, inundation maps, and risk management measures. However, with its low hazard potential and state oversight, the dam remains a vital resource for the local community for recreational activities around the lake. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate may find interest in exploring the unique features and management of Pennell Lake Dam within the Vicksburg District.
As a significant structure within the water resource landscape of Mississippi, Pennell Lake Dam offers insights into the intersection of private ownership, state regulation, and recreational usage. With its distinct characteristics such as earth construction and buttress core type, the dam provides a glimpse into the diverse infrastructure supporting water management in the region. Climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals can appreciate the role of Pennell Lake Dam in balancing recreation opportunities with safety considerations and regulatory frameworks set by the state regulatory agency.
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 Pennell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catalpa Creek At Mayhew | 2,940 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River At Stennis Lock And Dam | 850 cfs | → |
| Luxapallila Creek Nr Columbus | 179 cfs | → |
| Noxubee River At Macon | 94 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River At Aberdeen Lock And Dam | 2,810 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River At Bevill L&D Nr Pickensville | 1,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pennell Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
Track Pennell 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 Pennell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pennell 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 Pennell Lake Dam.