Merrill Pickering Lake Dam dam
Merrill Pickering Lake Dam
Merrill Pickering Lake Dam, located in Hebron, Mississippi, was completed in 1965 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a recreational facility for water enthusiasts. The dam is classified as an earth dam with a height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 192 acre-feet. Situated on the TR- Smith Creek, the dam is regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and is inspected and enforced by state authorities to ensure safety and compliance.
Despite being rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the dam has a moderate risk level of 3, indicating potential hazards that are yet to be determined. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam's hazard potential remains undetermined, and emergency action plans are yet to be prepared or assessed. The dam's primary purpose of recreation attracts visitors to the area, making it a popular spot for outdoor activities and water sports, although caution is advised due to the moderate risk level associated with the dam.
Overall, Merrill Pickering Lake Dam presents an intriguing blend of recreational opportunities and potential risks for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As a privately owned structure in Jones County, Mississippi, the dam's earth design and soil foundation add to its unique characteristics. With a focus on safety and compliance, state authorities continue to monitor and regulate the dam to ensure the well-being of the surrounding community and visitors who enjoy the recreational activities offered at the site.
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 Merrill Pickering Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf River Nr Collins | 488 cfs | → |
| Tallahala Creek At Laurel | 17 cfs | → |
| Okatoma Creek At Sanford | 287 cfs | → |
| Bouie Creek Nr Hattiesburg | 340 cfs | → |
| Tallahala Creek At Waldrup | 117 cfs | → |
| Leaf River At Hattiesburg | 1,210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merrill Pickering Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- James Duncan Arrington Memorial Highway Jones County
- Peps Point Road Forrest County
- Saguaro Trail Forrest County
- Highway 11 Petal
Track Merrill Pickering 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 Merrill Pickering Lake Dam
Where does the data for Merrill Pickering 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 Undetermined 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 Merrill Pickering Lake Dam.