Nichols Lake Dam
Nichols Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Howard County, Arkansas, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Nichols Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Nichols Lake Dam 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 Nashville (local government). It impounds the Mine Creek near Nashville.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 51 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 605 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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.
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 | Howard |
| Nearest City | Nashville |
| River/Stream | Mine Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.95889, -93.84250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 605 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 605 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,709 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Nashville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00918 |
| Federal ID | AR00918 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |