Lake Shepherd Springs Dam (breached)
Lake Shepherd Springs Dam (breached) is an earth dam located in Crawford County, Arkansas, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Shepherd Springs Dam (breached)
The primary purpose of Lake Shepherd Springs Dam (breached) 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 City Of Fort Smith (local government). It impounds the Frog Bayou near Mountainburg.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 2,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 470 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19,163 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 62 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.
At 99 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Crawford |
| Nearest City | Mountainburg |
| River/Stream | Frog Bayou |
| Coordinates | 35.69000, -94.11667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 19,163 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 19,163 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 470 acres |
| Drainage Area | 62 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 88,130 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Fort Smith |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00445 |
| Federal ID | AR00445 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |