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.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 1,076 ft long, taller than 72% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
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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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Craighead |
| Nearest City | Jonesboro |
| River/Stream | Higginbottom Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.78000, -90.70139 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,076 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 652 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 652 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 526 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 574 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Jonesboro |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00474 |
| Federal ID | AR00474 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |