Lake Navajo Dam dam
Lake Navajo Dam
Lake Navajo Dam, located in Sharp, Arkansas, was completed in 1964 and serves as a recreational haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a height of 44 feet and a storage capacity of 614 acre-feet, this earth dam creates a surface area of 34 acres and regulates the flow of the Big Otter Creek. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, prompting the need for regular inspections and risk management measures.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Lake Navajo Dam stands as a vital piece of infrastructure in the Memphis District. The dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering visitors the opportunity to engage in various water activities in a picturesque setting. While the dam has not undergone any major modifications in recent years, it plays a crucial role in flood control and water storage in the region.
With a spillway width of 0 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1450 cubic feet per second, Lake Navajo Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The dam's location in S19,T19N,R05W makes it easily accessible to residents and visitors in the city of Hardy. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the efficient operation and maintenance of dams like Lake Navajo are essential for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Navajo Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River At Town Branch Bridge At Hardy | 385 cfs | → |
| Mammoth Spring At Mammoth Spring | 428 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Imboden | 459 cfs | → |
| Elevenpoint River Near Ravenden Springs | 622 cfs | → |
| Black River At Black Rock | 4,690 cfs | → |
| Eleven Point River Near Bardley | 503 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Navajo Dam.
Boat launches
- Highland Fun Park
- Beach Road Hardy
- Sharp County
- Highway 142 River Access
- East Walnut Street Oregon County
Fishing spots
Track Lake Navajo Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Navajo Dam
Where does the data for Lake Navajo Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Navajo Dam.