Poteau River Wid Site 01 is an earth dam located in Scott County, Arkansas, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 1,729 ft long, taller than 88% 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 Poteau River Wid Site 01
The primary purpose of Poteau River Wid Site 01 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Poteau River Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Poteau River near Waldron.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,729 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,803 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/16/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Scott |
| Nearest City | Waldron |
| River/Stream | Poteau River |
| Coordinates | 34.90750, -93.96333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,729 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,803 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,803 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 88 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,195 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Poteau River Watershed Improvement District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00853 |
| Federal ID | AR00853 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |