Gurdon Pond 1 Dam

About Gurdon Pond 1 Dam

The primary purpose of Gurdon Pond 1 Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by International Paper Company (private). It impounds the Caney Creek near Gurdon.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 312 acre-feet. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century 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.

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.

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