Lake Thunderbird Dam
Lake Thunderbird Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Arkansas, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Thunderbird Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Thunderbird 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 (private). It impounds the Big Otter Creek near Hardy.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 1,587 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 237 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Hardy |
| River/Stream | Big Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.30500, -92.53333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,587 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 237 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,062 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cherokee Village SID |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00250 |
| Federal ID | AR00250 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |