David D. Terry Lock and Dam is a concrete dam located in Pulaski County, Arkansas, built in 1968. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 51 ft51 ft tall and 8,700 ft long, taller than 93% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About David D. Terry Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of David D. Terry 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 Pine Bluff.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 8,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,710 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 59,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 158,288 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 12/13/2023.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Pulaski |
| Nearest City | Pine Bluff |
| River/Stream | Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 34.66667, -92.15500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 49,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,710 acres |
| Drainage Area | 158,288 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 340,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Little Rock District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00172 |
| Federal ID | AR00172 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |