Carmel Dam dam
Carmel Dam
Carmel Dam, located in De Soto, Louisiana, along the Siphorien Bayou, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction in the area. Completed in 1998, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a hydraulic height of 17 feet, with a length of 490 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 297 acre-feet and a normal storage of 229 acre-feet, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being privately owned, Carmel Dam is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 50 feet, and it has been assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in June 2020. With a hazard potential deemed significant and a moderate risk assessment rating, it is evident that the management of Carmel Dam is crucial in mitigating potential risks and ensuring the safety of nearby communities.
In addition to flood risk reduction, Carmel Dam also supports recreational activities, further highlighting its importance in not just water resource management but also in providing opportunities for the community. With its strategic location and vital role in water management, Carmel Dam stands as a key infrastructure for both environmental protection and community well-being in the De Soto area of 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 Carmel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou San Patricio Near Benson | 39 cfs | → |
| Cypress Bayou Near Keithville | 67 cfs | → |
| Bayou Pierre Near Lake End | 26 cfs | → |
| Bayou Grand Cane Near Stanley | · | → |
| Red Chute Bayou At Sligo | 259 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Carthage | 7,250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carmel Dam.
Track Carmel 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 Carmel Dam
Where does the data for Carmel 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 Carmel Dam.