Muddy Fork Site 3
Muddy Fork Site 3 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Arkansas, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Muddy Fork Site 3
The primary purpose of Muddy Fork Site 3 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 Arkansas Game And Fish Commission (state). It impounds the Budd Kidd Creek near Prarie Grove.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 2,825 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,767 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/22/2025.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Prarie Grove |
| River/Stream | Budd Kidd Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.97098, -94.35236 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,825 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,767 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,767 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,657 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,791 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01101 |
| Federal ID | AR01101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |