Lee Creek
Lee Creek is a gravity dam located in Crawford County, Arkansas, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lee Creek
The primary purpose of Lee Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Fort Smith (local government). It impounds the Lee Creek, Arkansas River near Van Buren.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 1,372 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 634 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 436 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 03/16/2022.
At 48 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 | Crawford |
| Nearest City | Van Buren |
| River/Stream | Lee Creek, Arkansas River |
| Coordinates | 35.48446, -94.39458 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,372 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,118 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 634 acres |
| Drainage Area | 436 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 319,284 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Fort Smith |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR01492 |
| Federal ID | AR01492 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |