Big Creek Wid Site 20
Big Creek Wid Site 20 is an earth dam located in Craighead County, Arkansas, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Creek Wid Site 20
The primary purpose of Big Creek Wid Site 20 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Creek Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Lost Creek-os near Philadephia.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 308 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.
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 | Craighead |
| Nearest City | Philadephia |
| River/Stream | Lost Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 35.88750, -90.69944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 308 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 308 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 320 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Big Creek Watershed Improvement District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00465 |
| Federal ID | AR00465 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |