- City:
- Coldwater, MS
- Site Type:
- Dams, Infrastructure and Utilities
- New Deal Agencies:
- Federal & Military Operations, Army Corps of Engineers
- Started:
- 1939
- Completed:
- 1943
- Contractors:
- Forcum-James, H.N. Rodgers and Son, Pioneer Contracting
- Quality of Information:
- Good
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
The Arkabutla Dam and reservoir project was the second of three projects for flood control management of the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater river systems in Mississippi. The Army Corps of Engineers directed the $10,000,000 project. In order to construct the dam and reservoir, the town of Coldwater had to be relocated a mile further south. Approximately 700 residents were relocated at a cost of $250,000. The earthen dam is 11, 500 feet long, average of 67 feet high, and 482 feet wide at the base. Contracts were let to H. N. Rodgers & Son, Forcum-James, and Pioneer Contracting. Patton-Tully Transportation was awarded a contract for clearing a portion of the reservoir.
Source notes
Former floodlands flourish as engineers tame Old Man River. (Jan 10, 1939). Clarion-Ledger, p. 2.
Contracts let on Arkabutla Dam. (Jun 27, 1940). Greenwood Commonwealth, p. 7.
Coldwater ends prosperous year. (Jan 5, 1941). Clarion-Ledger, p. 5.
This Day. (Jul 17, 1942). Greenwood Commonwealth, p. 1.
Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Historic Resources Inventory. Retrieved Nov 24, 2019 from: https://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/Public/rpt.aspx?rpt=publicPropSearch&Name=&StreetNo=&StreetName=&City=Arkabutla&County=Any
U S Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District. Historic Photographs. Retrieved Nov 24, 2019 from:
https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Arkabutla-Lake/CollectionId/18709/
Site originally submitted by Susan Allen on November 26, 2019.
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