Harris Brake Dam
Harris Brake Dam is an earth dam located in Perry County, Arkansas, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Harris Brake Dam
The primary purpose of Harris Brake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Arkansas Game And Fish Commission (state). It impounds the Coffee Creek.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 3,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,576 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/15/2025.
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 | Perry |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Coffee Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.98667, -92.77500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,576 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,576 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,267 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00833 |
| Federal ID | AR00833 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |