Lake Fort Smith Dam
Lake Fort Smith Dam is an earth dam located in Poinsett County, Arkansas, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Fort Smith Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Fort Smith Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Fort Smith Utility Department (local government). It impounds the Frog Bayou near Mountainburg.
The dam stands 212 feet tall and stretches 3,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 75 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 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 09/05/2024.
At 212 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 | Poinsett |
| Nearest City | Mountainburg |
| River/Stream | Frog Bayou |
| Coordinates | 35.66056, -90.67889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 212 ft |
| Dam Height | 196 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 75 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 135,800 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Fort Smith Utility Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00446 |
| Federal ID | AR00446 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |