Lester May Lake Dam dam
Lester May Lake Dam
Lester May Lake Dam, located in Kemper County, Mississippi, is a pivotal structure designed by the USDA NRCS to regulate the flow of the TR-Chickasawhay Creek. Completed in 1975, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and provides a storage capacity of 294 acre-feet primarily for recreational purposes. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with uncontrolled outlet gates, making it a low hazard potential structure with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by a private entity, Lester May Lake Dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring state-regulated inspections and enforcement measures are in place. Despite being a privately owned structure, the dam's construction, design, and regulatory aspects are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The dam's location in the city of Moscow offers a tranquil recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of this water management infrastructure while enjoying the surrounding natural environment.
With its impressive design and functionality, Lester May Lake Dam serves as a testament to effective water resource management practices in Mississippi. This dam not only contributes to flood control and water storage but also enhances the recreational opportunities for the local community. Its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it a reliable and important structure in the region, further highlighting the critical role of dams in sustainable water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Lester May Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl River At Burnside | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Sowashee Creek At Meridian | 117 cfs | → |
| Chunky River Nr Chunky | 607 cfs | → |
| Bodka Creek Near Geiger | 15 cfs | → |
| Noxubee River At Macon | 500 cfs | → |
| Pearl River At Edinburg | 385 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lester May Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
Track Lester May 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 Lester May Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lester May 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 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 Lester May Lake Dam.