Balboa Lake Dam
Balboa Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Garland County, Arkansas, built in 1986. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Balboa Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Balboa Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Cedar Creek near Whittington.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 6,246 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 892 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 33,937 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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 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 12/12/2024.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Garland |
| Nearest City | Whittington |
| River/Stream | Cedar Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.62639, -92.89722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,246 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33,937 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33,937 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23,688 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 892 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 79,011 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01451 |
| Federal ID | AR01451 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |