Upper Ouachita Site 1
Upper Ouachita Site 1 is an earth dam located in Polk County, Arkansas, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Ouachita Site 1
The primary purpose of Upper Ouachita Site 1 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 Mena Water Utlities (local government). It impounds the Irons Fork Creek near Ink.
The dam stands 88 feet tall and stretches 1,735 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 310 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/30/2015. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 88 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Polk |
| Nearest City | Ink |
| River/Stream | Irons Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.64056, -94.13028 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,735 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 310 acres |
| Drainage Area | 34 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Mena Water Utlities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00901 |
| Federal ID | AR00901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |