Joe Mitcham Dam dam
Joe Mitcham Dam
Joe Mitcham Dam, located in Ruston, Louisiana, serves primarily for irrigation purposes along with recreational activities. Built in 1950, this private-owned Earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a storage capacity of 122 acre-feet. The dam spans 510 feet in length and is situated on the TR-Cypress Creek, within the Vicksburg District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Managed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Joe Mitcham Dam has a spillway width of 60 feet and a surface area of 9.76 acres. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, this dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam is well-regulated and enforced by state authorities to mitigate any potential risks effectively.
With its strategic location and essential role in water resource management, Joe Mitcham Dam is a key asset in the region. Its contribution to irrigation and recreation, coupled with its low hazard potential and state-regulated status, highlight the importance of this structure in safeguarding water resources and enhancing community resilience to climate variability and change in Lincoln, Louisiana.
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 Joe Mitcham Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Corney Bayou Near Lillie | 257 cfs | → |
| Saline Bayou Near Lucky | 243 cfs | → |
| Dugdemona River Near Joyce | 36 cfs | → |
| Bayou Lafourche Near Crew Lake | 5,570 cfs | → |
| Bayou Dorcheat Near Springhill | 65 cfs | → |
| Boeuf River Nr Girard | 205 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Joe Mitcham Dam.
Boat launches
- State Park Ranger Road Union Parish
- Simmon Hole Road Union Parish
- Dogwood Lane Union Parish
- State Route 2 Farmerville
- Mega Ramp Road Farmerville
Track Joe Mitcham 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 Joe Mitcham Dam
Where does the data for Joe Mitcham 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 Joe Mitcham Dam.