Lake Des Arc Dam
Lake Des Arc Dam is an earth dam located in Prairie County, Arkansas, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Des Arc Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Des Arc 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 Overflow Branch near Des Arc.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 16,925 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 350 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/09/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Prairie |
| Nearest City | Des Arc |
| River/Stream | Overflow Branch |
| Coordinates | 35.02167, -91.50833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 16,925 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 350 acres |
| Max Discharge | 10,062 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00695 |
| Federal ID | AR00695 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |