Three Prong Dam dam
Three Prong Dam
Three Prong Dam, located in Rankin, Mississippi, along Three Prong Creek, is a privately-owned earth dam completed in 2005 primarily for recreation purposes. With a height of 17 feet and a length of 750 feet, the dam boasts a normal storage capacity of 135 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and undergoes regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Managed by Nolan P. Williamson PE-14059, the dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a structural height of 17 feet, with a hydraulic height of 7 feet. The surrounding area covers 27 acres with a drainage area of 1.82 square miles, providing ample space for recreational activities and wildlife habitat. Although the dam has not been rated for condition assessment, its risk management measures and emergency preparedness are critical aspects in maintaining its integrity and safeguarding the community from potential hazards.
Despite its private ownership, Three Prong Dam plays a significant role in providing recreational opportunities and regulating water flow along Three Prong Creek. With its strategic location and design, the dam serves as a vital structure in the Vicksburg District, offering a balance between human enjoyment and environmental conservation. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of dams like Three Prong in water management and ecosystem preservation is essential for sustainable development and resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Three Prong Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging Moss Creek Nr Jackson | 203 cfs | → |
| Pearl River At Jackson | 2,430 cfs | → |
| Lynch Creek At Jackson | 207 cfs | → |
| Pearl River Nr Lena | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Yockanookany River Nr Ofahoma | 196 cfs | → |
| Big Black River Nr Bentonia | 776 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Three Prong Dam.
Boat launches
- Fannin Landing Circle Rankin County
- Browns Landing Road Madison County
- Spillway Road Rankin County
- Madison Landing Circle 101, Ridgeland
- West River Road Jackson
- East River Road Rankin County
Track Three Prong 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 Three Prong Dam
Where does the data for Three Prong 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 Three Prong Dam.