Carter Lake Dam
Carter Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Faulkner County, Arkansas, built in 1968. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Carter Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Carter Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kathleen Smith (private). It impounds the Gold Creek-trib near Preston.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 12/13/2024.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Faulkner |
| Nearest City | Preston |
| River/Stream | Gold Creek-trib |
| Coordinates | 35.02222, -92.43833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 82 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 170 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kathleen Smith |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01243 |
| Federal ID | AR01243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |