Narrows Dam
Narrows Dam is a gravity dam located in Pike County, Arkansas, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Narrows Dam
The primary purpose of Narrows Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Vicksburg District (federal). It impounds the Little Missouri River near Murfreesboro.
The dam stands 196 feet tall and stretches 940 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 237 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/09/2020.
At 196 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Arkansas dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Pike |
| Nearest City | Murfreesboro |
| River/Stream | Little Missouri River |
| Coordinates | 34.14860, -93.71564 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 196 ft |
| Dam Height | 183 ft |
| Dam Length | 940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 279,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 237 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 42,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Vicksburg District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00154 |
| Federal ID | AR00154 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |