Lake Tangipahoa Dam is an embankment dam on the Tangipahoa River in Pike County, Mississippi. It forms Lake Tangipahoa within the Percy Quin State Park.[1] The dam was completed in 1940 and in 1942 it failed. It was rebuilt in 1945 at a cost of $75,000.[2] During the spring flood of 1983, the dam again failed and contributed to the flood records for the Tangipahoa River that stand today. The dam was rebuilt afterward and a concrete flood control structure was added. Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Isaac in August 2012 prompted the evacuation of 60,000 people downstream of the dam due to high reservoir levels and concerns of its stability.[3] The lake was drained later in the month with plans to rebuild the dam.[4]

Lake Tangipahoa Dam
Lake Tangipahoa Dam is located in Mississippi
Lake Tangipahoa Dam
Location of Lake Tangipahoa Dam in Mississippi
CountryUnited States
LocationPike County, Mississippi
Coordinates31°10′29″N 90°31′40″W / 31.17472°N 90.52778°W / 31.17472; -90.52778
PurposeRecreation
StatusOperational
Opening date1940
Dam and spillways
Height34 ft (10 m)
Length2,300 ft (701 m)
Reservoir
Total capacity4,841 acre⋅ft (5,971,286 m3)
Catchment area56.8 sq mi (147 km2)
Surface area554 acres (224 ha)

References

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  1. ^ "Lake Tangipahoa Dam Percy, southwest Mississippi". FindLakes. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  2. ^ National Geographic's guide to the state parks of the United States (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. 1997. pp. 147. ISBN 1426208898.
  3. ^ Anthony, Castellano (30 August 2012). "Mississippi Dam Failure Feared After Isaac". ABC News. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. ^ Anthony, Castellano (30 August 2012). "Percy Quin's Lake Tangipahoa drained after Tropical Storm Isaac". Mississippi Sportsmen. Retrieved 12 April 2014.