Hinshaw Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Arkansas, built in 1961. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 700 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 Hinshaw Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hinshaw Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (private). It impounds the Litle Wildcat Creek-tr near Wheeler.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 118 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Wheeler |
| River/Stream | Litle Wildcat Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 36.14361, -94.23778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 118 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 118 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Northwest Arkansas Land Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00279 |
| Federal ID | AR00279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |