Greers Ferry Dam dam
Greers Ferry Dam
Greers Ferry Dam, located on the Little Red River in Heber Springs, Arkansas, is a concrete gravity dam completed in 1962 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a height of 243 feet and a length of 1704 feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation. The dam has a storage capacity of 2,844,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 31,460 acres, making it a crucial water resource for the region.
Despite the dam's successful history of reducing flood risks to surrounding communities, a risk assessment conducted in 2020 categorized the potential hazards as high due to the possibility of extreme rainfall events or earthquakes causing downstream flooding. To mitigate these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers implements ongoing inspection, maintenance, and monitoring activities, especially during high water events. Additionally, an Emergency Action Plan is in place to lower the risk of life loss in case of emergencies. The dam's risk management measures also include regular updates to the emergency plan and collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities to ensure preparedness for any flood events affecting the dam.
Greers Ferry Dam remains a vital infrastructure for water resource management and flood control in Arkansas. With its multifaceted benefits and risk management strategies, the dam exemplifies the importance of careful planning and maintenance in safeguarding water resources and communities against potential hazards.
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 Greers Ferry Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Red River Near Dewey | 270 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Of Little Red River At Shirley | 42 cfs | → |
| White River At Batesville | 43,800 cfs | → |
| South Fork Of Little Red River At Clinton | 10 cfs | → |
| Cadron Creek Near Guy | 40 cfs | → |
| North Sylamore Creek Near Fifty Six | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Greers Ferry Dam.
Track Greers Ferry 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 Greers Ferry Dam
Where does the data for Greers Ferry 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 Greers Ferry Dam.