Ward Lake Dam
Ward Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Polk County, Arkansas, built in 1946. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ward Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ward Lake Dam 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 Mena Water Utlities (local government). It impounds the Ward Creek near Mena.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,381 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/19/2020.
At 85 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 | Mena |
| River/Stream | Ward Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.60500, -94.24667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,381 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,381 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,908 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Mena Water Utlities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00902 |
| Federal ID | AR00902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |