Big Bay Lake Dam dam
Big Bay Lake Dam
Big Bay Lake Dam, located in Lamar, Mississippi, is a private-owned structure designed by Timothy Burge and completed in 2010. The dam serves primarily for recreation purposes and stands at a height of 56.3 feet, with a hydraulic height of 46 feet and a structural height of 60 feet. It sits on the Bay Creek and has a maximum storage capacity of 29,815 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 22,107 acre-feet.
With a surface area of 968 acres and a drainage area of 9.87 square miles, Big Bay Lake Dam has a spillway type of 'Uncontrolled' with a spillway width of 8 feet. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment was satisfactory during its last inspection in April 2020. The dam does not have any outlet gates or locks associated with it, and its risk assessment is classified as moderate. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality regulates the dam, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement are carried out.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Big Bay Lake Dam serves as a notable structure for its recreational purpose and environmental significance in Mississippi. Its design, construction, and operation showcase a balance between human enjoyment and responsible water management, highlighting the importance of proper dam maintenance and regulation to ensure safety and sustainability for both the community and the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Big Bay Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl River Nr Columbia | 8,920 cfs | → |
| Bouie Creek Nr Hattiesburg | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Leaf River At Hattiesburg | 6,210 cfs | → |
| Okatoma Creek At Sanford | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Nr Brooklyn | 3,280 cfs | → |
| Tallahala Creek Nr Runnelstown | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Bay Lake Dam.
Track Big Bay 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 Big Bay Lake Dam
Where does the data for Big Bay 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 High 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 Big Bay Lake Dam.