Lake Elmdale Dam
Lake Elmdale Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Arkansas, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Elmdale Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Elmdale Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Arkansas Game And Fish Commission, Construction (state). It impounds the Bush Creek near Elm Springs.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 125 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 07/22/2025.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Elm Springs |
| River/Stream | Bush Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.13546, -94.13978 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 484 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,758 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Construction |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00290 |
| Federal ID | AR00290 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |