Ola-dale
Ola-dale is an earth dam located in Yell County, Arkansas, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ola-dale
The primary purpose of Ola-dale 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 Ola (local government). It impounds the Keeland Creek near Ola.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 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 06/24/2024.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Yell |
| Nearest City | Ola |
| River/Stream | Keeland Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.03148, -93.23302 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,300 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Ola |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00767 |
| Federal ID | AR00767 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |