Old River dam
Old River
Old River, also known as Sidney A. Murray, Jr., is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Morgan City, Louisiana, along the Mississippi River. Built in 1990 by EBASCO Constructors, this concrete dam stands at a height of 134.3 feet and serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond management. With a drainage area of 1,250,000 square miles, Old River plays a critical role in regulating water flow and providing renewable energy in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Old River has a high hazard potential due to its structural features and location. While the dam has not undergone recent condition assessment, emergency action plans have been updated periodically to ensure public safety in case of any mishaps. Despite its high risk, Old River remains a key component of the local water resource infrastructure and contributes significantly to the region's hydroelectric power generation capabilities.
As an essential component of the water management system in Louisiana, Old River serves as a testament to the balance between harnessing natural resources for energy production and ensuring environmental conservation. With its strategic location along the Mississippi River, this dam not only provides hydroelectric power but also supports local wildlife habitats and water management initiatives. As climate change brings about more extreme weather events, the importance of infrastructure like Old River in safeguarding water resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change becomes increasingly evident.
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 Old River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| (Coe) Atchafalaya River At Simmesport | 182,000 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Nr Woodville | 303 cfs | → |
| Bayou Des Glaises Diversion Ch. At Moreauville | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Homochitto River At Rosetta | 5,680 cfs | → |
| Comite River Near Olive Branch | 65 cfs | → |
| Bayou Courtableau At Washington | 1,720 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old River .
Boat launches
Fishing spots
Track Old River 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 Old River
Where does the data for Old River 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 Old River .