Poteau River Wid Site 05
Poteau River Wid Site 05 is an earth dam located in Scott County, Arkansas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Poteau River Wid Site 05
The primary purpose of Poteau River Wid Site 05 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 Waldron (local government). It impounds the East Fork Poteau River near Waldron.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,433 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/16/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Waldron |
| River/Stream | East Fork Poteau River |
| Coordinates | 34.93767, -94.04789 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,433 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,961 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Waldron |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00847 |
| Federal ID | AR00847 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |