Sequoyah Lake Dam
Sequoyah Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sharp County, Arkansas, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sequoyah Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sequoyah Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cherokee Village Sid (local government). It impounds the Little Otter Creek near Hardy.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 73 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/28/2024.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Sharp |
| Nearest City | Hardy |
| River/Stream | Little Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.29952, -91.52827 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 73 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,280 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cherokee Village SID |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00249 |
| Federal ID | AR00249 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |