Poinsett Wid Site 1
Poinsett Wid Site 1 is an earth dam located in Poinsett County, Arkansas, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Poinsett Wid Site 1
The primary purpose of Poinsett Wid Site 1 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 Poinsett Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Otter Creek.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 2,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/01/2024.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Poinsett |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.47077, -90.68604 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,390 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,390 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 311 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,321 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Poinsett Watershed Improvement District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01277 |
| Federal ID | AR01277 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |