Okatibbee Dam facts for kids
Okatibbee Dam is a large structure located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It was built to help control floods and provide clean drinking water for nearby communities. This important dam holds back the waters of Okatibbee Creek, creating a beautiful and useful body of water known as Okatibbee Lake.
Building Okatibbee Dam
The Okatibbee Dam was constructed in 1968 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This group is known for building and managing many of the nation's waterways and dams. The dam is an "earthen gravity dam," which means it's made mostly of earth, like soil and rock. Its own weight helps it stand strong against the water it holds back.
The dam stands 72 feet (about 22 meters) tall. It stretches for 6,620 feet (over 2 kilometers) across the land at its top. The main jobs of the dam are to prevent floods and to store water for people to drink. The Corps of Engineers still owns and operates the dam today, making sure it works properly and safely.
Discover Okatibbee Lake
The large body of water created by Okatibbee Dam is called Okatibbee Lake. This lake covers an area of about 5.9 square miles (15.3 square kilometers). It has a long shoreline, stretching for about 28 miles (45 kilometers).
The lake can hold a lot of water. Its normal storage capacity is 46,538 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot. This shows just how much water the lake can store for flood control and drinking water supplies.
Fun at Okatibbee Lake
Okatibbee Lake is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. People enjoy coming here for boating and fishing. It's a great place to catch different kinds of fish.
If you love the outdoors, you can also go camping at the lake. There's one full-service campground available. The Corps of Engineers also maintains four day-use parks around the lake, which are perfect for picnics or short visits. Other activities include hunting in designated areas and simply enjoying nature.
Just north of Okatibbee Lake, you'll find the Okatibbee State Wildlife Area. This special area helps protect local wildlife and their habitats, making the whole region a great place for nature lovers.
