Dardanelle Lock and Dam - Russellville Dike is an earth dam located in Pope County, Arkansas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 6,336 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Dardanelle Lock and Dam - Russellville Dike
The primary purpose of Dardanelle Lock and Dam - Russellville Dike 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 - Little Rock District (federal). It impounds the Arkansas near Dardanelle.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 6,336 feet across. Completed in 1964, 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 08/13/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Pope |
| Nearest City | Dardanelle |
| River/Stream | Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 35.30427, -93.15524 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,336 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Little Rock District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00162 |
| Federal ID | AR00162S001 |