Poteau River Wid Site 07
Poteau River Wid Site 07 is an earth dam located in Scott County, Arkansas, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Poteau River Wid Site 07
The primary purpose of Poteau River Wid Site 07 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Poteau River Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Presley Branch near Hon.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 632 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 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 12/11/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Scott |
| Nearest City | Hon |
| River/Stream | Presley Branch |
| Coordinates | 34.95197, -94.16354 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 632 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 632 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,960 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Poteau River Watershed Improvement District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00846 |
| Federal ID | AR00846 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |