Craighead Forest Lake Dam

Craighead Forest Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Craighead County, Arkansas, built in 1952. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Craighead Forest Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Craighead Forest Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Jonesboro (local government). It impounds the Higginbottom Creek near Jonesboro.

The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 1,076 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 652 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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. 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 12/10/2024.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateArkansas
CountyCraighead
Nearest CityJonesboro
River/StreamHigginbottom Creek
Coordinates35.78000, -90.70139

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height31 ft
Dam Height31 ft
Dam Length1,076 ft
Year Completed1952 (74 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage652 acre-ft
Max Storage652 acre-ft
Normal Storage526 acre-ft
Surface Area55 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge574 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerCity of Jonesboro
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection12/10/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDAR00474
Federal IDAR00474
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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