Lake Navajo Dam
Lake Navajo Dam is an earth dam located in Sharp County, Arkansas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Navajo Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Navajo Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cherokee Village Sid (local government). It impounds the Big Otter Creek-os near Hardy.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 657 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 614 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/10/2022.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sharp |
| Nearest City | Hardy |
| River/Stream | Big Otter Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 36.27914, -91.54707 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 657 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 614 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 614 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 580 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,450 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cherokee Village SID |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00247 |
| Federal ID | AR00247 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |