Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam dam
Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam
The Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam, located in Water Valley, Mississippi, is a critical piece of infrastructure designed and built by the USDA NRCS in 1994 for flood risk reduction along the TR-Otoucalofa Creek. This local government-owned earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans a length of 804 feet, providing storage of 365 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 1.18 square miles. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a spillway type of uncontrolled and a hazard potential rated as low.
Managed by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as not rated in terms of condition assessment, the dam's risk assessment is moderate. With a risk management plan in place and emergency action preparedness measures anticipated but not yet confirmed, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in Calhoun County, Mississippi. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find this dam's design and operation fascinating in its contribution to local flood control efforts.
As part of the Vicksburg District's water resource management infrastructure, the Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam showcases the collaboration between federal and state agencies in ensuring the safety and functionality of critical earth dams. With a focus on flood risk reduction and a commitment to regulatory compliance and inspection, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. Its location in a high-risk area for flooding underscores the necessity of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure to protect communities and ecosystems downstream.
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 Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yocona River Nr Oxford | 616 cfs | → |
| Skuna River At Bruce | 237 cfs | → |
| Otoucalofa Creek Canal Nr Water Valley | 25 cfs | → |
| Little Tallahatchie River At Etta | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Hotopha Creek Nr Batesville | 13 cfs | → |
| Batupan Bogue At Grenada | 271 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 553 Yalobusha County
- County Road 170 Yalobusha County
- Quail Run Trail Yalobusha County
- Engineers Point Boat Ramp
- Persimmon Hill Multi-Purpose Trail Yalobusha County
- County Road 189 Yalobusha County
Track Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 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 Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam
Where does the data for Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 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 Otoucalofa Creek Y-15-2 Dam.