Choctaw Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Van Buren County, Arkansas, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 730 ft long. 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 Choctaw Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Choctaw Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Eardy Shannon (private). It impounds the Big Branch-tr near Choctaw.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Completed in 1953, 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.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Van Buren |
| Nearest City | Choctaw |
| River/Stream | Big Branch-tr |
| Coordinates | 35.53917, -92.44833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Eardy Shannon |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00204 |
| Federal ID | AR00204 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |