Muddy Fork Site 4
Muddy Fork Site 4 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Arkansas, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Muddy Fork Site 4
The primary purpose of Muddy Fork Site 4 is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Prairie Grove Water Department (local government). It impounds the Blair Creek near Prairie Grove.
The dam stands 78 feet tall and stretches 1,240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 95 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,977 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/19/2023.
At 78 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Prairie Grove |
| River/Stream | Blair Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.93694, -94.33583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,977 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,977 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,703 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 95 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,418 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Prairie Grove Water Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00281 |
| Federal ID | AR00281 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |