Wild Plum Lake Dam
Wild Plum Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sharp County, Arkansas, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wild Plum Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wild Plum Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Highland (private). It impounds the Little Otter Creek-spring Riv near Hardy.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 697 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/28/2025.
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 | Little Otter Creek-spring Riv |
| Coordinates | 36.27341, -91.52610 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 697 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,058 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Highland |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00251 |
| Federal ID | AR00251 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |