Poteau River Wid Site 12 is an earth dam located in Scott County, Arkansas, built in 1969. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 79 ft79 ft tall and 1,465 ft long, taller than 97% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Poteau River Wid Site 12
The primary purpose of Poteau River Wid Site 12 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 Denton Creek near Winfield.
The dam stands 79 feet tall and stretches 1,465 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,283 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2025.
At 79 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Scott |
| Nearest City | Winfield |
| River/Stream | Denton Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.84833, -94.28000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 79 ft |
| Dam Height | 79 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,465 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,283 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,283 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,200 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00856 |
| Federal ID | AR00856 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |