Bayou Bonne Idee Dam dam
Bayou Bonne Idee Dam
Bayou Bonne Idee Dam, located in Morehouse, Louisiana, is a vital structure managed by the local government for irrigation and recreation purposes. Built in 1956 by the Louisiana Department of Public Works, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and spans 650 feet along Bayou Bonne Idee. With a maximum storage capacity of 7,000 acre-feet and a drainage area of 62 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's spillway, designed as uncontrolled with a width of 150 feet, ensures the safe discharge of excess water during heavy rainfall events. Despite being classified with a significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in fair condition as of its last inspection in August 2018. The surrounding area covers 670 acres and accommodates a normal storage capacity of 6,000 acre-feet, providing recreational opportunities for the local community while serving as a reliable source of irrigation water for agriculture.
In case of emergencies, the dam's vertical lift outlet gates are ready to manage the flow of water efficiently. With a moderate risk assessment level and a regular inspection frequency, Bayou Bonne Idee Dam stands as a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region, ensuring both safety and sustainability for the local community and environment.
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 Bayou Bonne Idee Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boeuf River Nr Girard | 143 cfs | → |
| Bayou Lafourche Near Crew Lake | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Chemin-A-Haut Byu Nr Beekman | 225 cfs | → |
| Bayou Bartholomew Near Jones | · | → |
| Tensas River At Tendal | 350 cfs | → |
| Bayou Macon Nr Kilbourne | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bayou Bonne Idee Dam.
Boat launches
- State Route 17 5065, Delhi
- Poverty Point Parkway Madison Parish
- Barrett Boat Dock Road Ouachita Parish
- Boardman Avenue Sterlington
- Hooker Hole Road Union Parish
- Finch Lake Road Union Parish
Campgrounds
Track Bayou Bonne Idee 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 Bayou Bonne Idee Dam
Where does the data for Bayou Bonne Idee 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 Significant 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 Bayou Bonne Idee Dam.