Rayburn Dam is an earth dam located in Benton County, Arkansas, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 95 ft95 ft tall and 830 ft long, taller than 98% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Rayburn Dam
The primary purpose of Rayburn Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Little Sugar Creek-tr near Bella Vista Village.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/20/2026.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Benton |
| Nearest City | Bella Vista Village |
| River/Stream | Little Sugar Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 36.46250, -94.24000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/20/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00262 |
| Federal ID | AR00262 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |