Lake Lemay Dam dam
Lake Lemay Dam
Lake Lemay Dam, located in Lonoke, Arkansas, was completed in 1963 and stands at a height of 20 feet with a length of 700 feet. The dam serves a primary purpose of recreation and is classified as an Earth dam type. It has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres, making it a popular spot for water activities and outdoor enthusiasts.
Situated on Pigeon Roost Creek, the dam is owned privately and is not regulated by the state. Despite being rated as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." With a lack of regular inspections and maintenance, there are concerns about the overall safety and emergency preparedness of the structure. However, the dam continues to attract visitors to enjoy its recreational offerings.
The Memphis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers oversees Lake Lemay Dam, but it is not classified as a USACE structure. The dam has not undergone any modifications or upgrades in recent years, and there is no indication of an Emergency Action Plan or risk assessment in place. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor the condition of dams like Lake Lemay to ensure their safety and functionality for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Lemay Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Meto Near Lonoke | 23 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek At 36th Street At Little Rock | 11 cfs | → |
| White River At Devalls Bluff | 25,700 cfs | → |
| White River At Georgetown | 24,000 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Maumelle Dam At Natural Steps | · | → |
| Cache River Near Cotton Plant | 1,180 cfs | → |
About Lake Lemay Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lemay 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 Significant 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 below 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.
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.