Arkabutla Dam
Arkabutla Dam is an earth dam located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Arkabutla Dam
The primary purpose of Arkabutla Dam 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 Usace - Vicksburg District (federal). It impounds the Coldwater River near Tunica.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 10,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,383,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,000 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/09/2025.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 Mississippi 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 | Mississippi |
| County | DeSoto |
| Nearest City | Tunica |
| River/Stream | Coldwater River |
| Coordinates | 34.75921, -90.12375 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,383,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,383,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,000 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 111,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Vicksburg District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MS01496 |
| Federal ID | MS01496 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |