Horsehead Lake Dam
Horsehead Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Johnson County, Arkansas, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Horsehead Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Horsehead Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Arkansas Game And Fish Commission (state). It impounds the Horsehead Creek near Hunt.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 111 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,913 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/14/2025.
At 67 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Johnson |
| Nearest City | Hunt |
| River/Stream | Horsehead Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.55862, -93.63345 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,913 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,913 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,663 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 111 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00441 |
| Federal ID | AR00441 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |