Big Bay Lake

Big Bay Lake was an artificial lake of about 900 to 1000 acres created by an $2.5 million earthen dam on Bay Creek, about 11 miles west of Purvis. On March 12, 2004, at about 12:35 PM, the dam failed, releasing 7.2 billion gallons of water and flooding nearly 100 homes, and affecting almost 17 miles west of the dam. Proposals to rebuild the dam have been controversial, with landowners at the former lake largely supporting the rebuilding of the dam, and residents and business owners downstream largely opposing the dam.

On May 8, 2007, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) approved the application to rebuild the dam. During the first year after construction MDEQ will inspect the new dam every three months, and then inspect the dam annually after the first year. Construction of the new dam began June 14. Meanwhile residents living downstream plan to appeal the decision of the MDEQ to the Lamar County Chancery Court.