Sparks Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Fulton County, Arkansas, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 360 ft long. 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 Sparks Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sparks Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Vernon Sparks (private). It impounds the Big Creek-tr near Viola.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. Completed in 1974, 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.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Fulton |
| Nearest City | Viola |
| River/Stream | Big Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 36.40000, -91.97000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 290 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Vernon Sparks |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01127 |
| Federal ID | AR01127 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |