Lake Nixon Dam

Lake Nixon Dam is an earth dam located in Pulaski County, Arkansas, built in 1946. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Lake Nixon Dam

The primary purpose of Lake Nixon Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Second Baptist Church (private). It impounds the Mc Henry Creek Trib near Little Rock.

The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 246 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 238 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 10/14/2025.

At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.

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Significant HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateArkansas
CountyPulaski
Nearest CityLittle Rock
River/StreamMc Henry Creek Trib
Coordinates34.71500, -92.43333

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height35 ft
Dam Height35 ft
Dam Length246 ft
Year Completed1946 (80 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage238 acre-ft
Max Storage238 acre-ft
Normal Storage180 acre-ft
Surface Area6 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge1,208 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerSecond Baptist Church
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection10/14/2025
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDAR00123
Federal IDAR00123
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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