Bethel Dam is a gravity dam located in Garland County, Arkansas, built in 1881. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 419 ft long, taller than 82% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bethel Dam
The primary purpose of Bethel Dam 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 Hot Springs Municipal Water System (local government). It impounds the Bull Bayou-tr near Hot Springs.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 419 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 194 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1881, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 07/25/2024.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Garland |
| Nearest City | Hot Springs |
| River/Stream | Bull Bayou-tr |
| Coordinates | 34.54000, -93.06722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 419 ft |
| Year Completed | 1881 (145 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 184 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,630 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Hot Springs Municipal Water System |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00729 |
| Federal ID | AR00729 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |