Fourche Creek Wid Site 17 is an earth dam located in Randolph County, Arkansas, built in 1976. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 1,115 ft long, taller than 88% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Fourche Creek Wid Site 17
The primary purpose of Fourche Creek Wid Site 17 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 Fourche Creek Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Tattle Creek near Pocahontas.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,115 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,560 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/25/2025.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Randolph |
| Nearest City | Pocahontas |
| River/Stream | Tattle Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.42167, -91.01167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,115 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,560 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,560 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 134 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,114 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Fourche Creek Watershed Improvement District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/25/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01266 |
| Federal ID | AR01266 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |