Joe Hardin Lock And Dam
Joe Hardin Lock And Dam is a concrete dam located in Jefferson County, Arkansas, built in 1968. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Joe Hardin Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Joe Hardin Lock And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Little Rock District (federal). It impounds the Arkansas near Gillett.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 6,720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,670 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 159,018 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/29/2025.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Gillett |
| River/Stream | Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 34.16278, -91.68013 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 46,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,670 acres |
| Drainage Area | 159,018 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 291,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Little Rock District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00168 |
| Federal ID | AR00168 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |