Porter Hall Dam
Porter Hall Dam
Porter Hall Dam, located in Lawrence, Mississippi, stands as a private-owned structure regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Completed in 2002, this earth dam primarily serves recreational purposes along the East Topisan Creek. With a height of 26 feet and a length of 917 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 255 acre-feet and a surface area of 18.8 acres, making it an essential resource for water enthusiasts and climate advocates in the region.
Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Porter Hall Dam remains a key feature in the New Orleans District, offering valuable recreational opportunities to the local community. With its uncontrolled spillway and sturdy buttress core type, the dam presents a unique blend of functionality and scenic beauty, attracting visitors from far and wide. Its presence, combined with the surrounding natural landscape, adds to the overall charm and appeal of the area, making it a must-visit destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
As a symbol of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, Porter Hall Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible infrastructure development in harmony with nature. Its construction and ongoing maintenance reflect a commitment to both recreation and conservation, highlighting the delicate balance between human needs and the preservation of natural resources. For those passionate about water resource management and climate resilience, Porter Hall Dam serves as a shining example of how infrastructure can enhance the quality of life while safeguarding the environment for future generations to enjoy.
Inside the reservoir
The real shoreline of this water body, with a depth model scaled so the basin holds exactly its recorded storage. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, and use the slider to drain and refill it. Click anywhere on the basin for the modelled depth there.
NID normal pool storage (180 AF) over this shoreline implies a 30 ft basin, deeper than the 26 ft dam. Depth capped to the dam; storage shown is modelled, not NID.
How this is built. The shoreline is the National Hydrography
Dataset polygon for this water body,
matched to the dam by proximity and confirmed by comparing its area with the
National Inventory of Dams surface area (agreement 0.61×).
Depth is modelled, not surveyed: the basin is shaped by distance from
shore — deep in open water, shallow in the bays — and scaled so its
volume equals the recorded storage. No national bathymetric survey exists for
US reservoirs. Treat the shoreline, area and volume as measured, and the depth
distribution as an informed approximation.
Above normal pool, water is shown rising within the normal-pool
shoreline. Where it would actually spread depends on the surrounding
terrain, which is not modelled here — a reservoir in a steep canyon barely
widens, one on flat ground can spread a long way. This is a depth and volume
figure, not an inundation map. Official inundation mapping for a dam
comes from its Emergency Action Plan.
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 Porter Hall Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl River Nr Monticello | 774 cfs | → |
| Bogue Chitto Nr Tylertown | 232 cfs | → |
| Pearl River Nr Columbia | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Pearl River Nr Rockport | 797 cfs | → |
| Tangipahoa River At Osyka | 106 cfs | → |
| Homochitto River At Eddiceton | 37 cfs | → |
About Porter Hall Dam
Where does the data for Porter Hall 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 below 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.
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.
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