Fred Smith Lake Dam dam
Fred Smith Lake Dam
Fred Smith Lake Dam, located in Monroe, Mississippi, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. This earth dam with a buttress core stands at a height of 11 feet and has a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
The dam, managed by the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, features an uncontrolled spillway and no associated locks. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam has not had any recent modifications and does not have an emergency action plan in place. The risk management measures, inundation maps, and contact information for emergencies are not updated, indicating a potential area for improvement in terms of safety and emergency preparedness for this recreational water resource.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Fred Smith Lake Dam provides an interesting case study in the management of privately owned dams for recreational purposes. With its moderate risk assessment and undetermined hazard potential, there is a need for enhanced safety measures and emergency planning to ensure the continued protection of the surrounding area and downstream communities in the event of a dam failure. This dam serves as a reminder of the importance of regulatory oversight and proactive risk management for all types of water infrastructure, even those primarily used for leisure activities.
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 Fred Smith Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tombigbee River At Aberdeen Lock And Dam | 2,690 cfs | → |
| Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River Nr Amory | 3,380 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River At Bigbee | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Nr Nettleton | 381 cfs | → |
| Tombigbee River At Stennis Lock And Dam | 2,320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fred Smith Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Amory Boat Ramp Road Amory
- Glover Wilkins Road Monroe County
- Waverly Mansion Road Clay County
- Ironwood Bluff Boat Ramp Access Itawamba County
- West Levee Service Road Itawamba County
Track Fred Smith 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 Fred Smith Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fred Smith 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 Fred Smith Lake Dam.