Smith Lake Dam, located in Rankin, Mississippi, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation.
Wind
Humidity
Completed in 2003, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10.5 feet, providing a storage capacity of 57 acre-feet. The dam spans 400 feet in length and impounds water from the UNT of Butler Creek, with a surface area of 7.9 acres and a drainage area of 0.14 square miles.
Managed by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Smith Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and not yet rated for condition assessment, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level. With uncontrolled spillways and outlets, the dam presents a moderate risk that necessitates ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
Although the dam currently lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, such as an Emergency Action Plan and inundation maps, its risk level and moderate hazard potential highlight the importance of implementing these safeguards to protect downstream communities in the event of a breach or failure. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Smith Lake Dam to be a compelling case study in the intersection of recreational infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and risk management in the realm of dam safety.
Year Completed |
2003 |
Dam Length |
400 |
Dam Height |
12 |
River Or Stream |
UNT OF BUTLER CREEK |
Primary Dam Type |
Earth |
Surface Area |
7.9 |
Hydraulic Height |
10.5 |
Drainage Area |
0.14 |
Nid Storage |
57 |
Structural Height |
8 |
Outlet Gates |
Uncontrolled |
Hazard Potential |
Undetermined |
Foundations |
Soil |
Nid Height |
12 |
Pearl River At Jackson
|
362cfs |
Lynch Creek At Jackson
|
1100cfs |
Hanging Moss Creek Nr Jackson
|
356cfs |
Strong River At D`Lo
|
108cfs |
Pearl River Nr Rockport
|
775cfs |
Big Black River Nr Bentonia
|
392cfs |