Lake Wilhelmina Dam
Lake Wilhelmina Dam is an earth dam located in Polk County, Arkansas, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Wilhelmina Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Wilhelmina 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 Powell Creek near Rocky.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 1,240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,940 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/12/2025.
At 75 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 | Rocky |
| River/Stream | Powell Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.59969, -94.36037 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,940 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,940 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,050 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/12/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00905 |
| Federal ID | AR00905 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |