Degray Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, Arkansas, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 98 ft98 ft tall and 13,200 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Degray Dam
The primary purpose of Degray 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 Caddo River near Caddo Valley.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 13,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,377,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 453 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/10/2025.
At 98 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 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 | Clark |
| Nearest City | Caddo Valley |
| River/Stream | Caddo River |
| Coordinates | 34.21434, -93.11075 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Length | 13,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,377,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,377,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 654,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 453 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 67,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Vicksburg District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00151 |
| Federal ID | AR00151 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |