Spring Lake Dam dam
Spring Lake Dam
Spring Lake Dam, located in Sharp, Arkansas, serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet and has a hydraulic height of 31 feet. With a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a surface area of 11 acres, the dam regulates the flow of Humphrey Creek and provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities.
Despite its primary purpose for recreation, Spring Lake Dam has been designated as a high hazard potential structure. While it is regulated and inspected by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." Emergency action plans are not readily available, and risk assessment measures are yet to be implemented. The local government must prioritize the safety and maintenance of this important water resource to ensure the protection of the surrounding community.
In the face of changing climate patterns and the potential for increased hydrological risks, Spring Lake Dam stands as a crucial structure in need of comprehensive evaluation and management. With its high hazard potential and lack of current risk assessment measures, there is a pressing need for proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should monitor the developments surrounding Spring Lake Dam to ensure the safety and sustainability of this valuable recreational asset.
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 Spring Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River At Town Branch Bridge At Hardy | 377 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Imboden | 428 cfs | → |
| Elevenpoint River Near Ravenden Springs | 572 cfs | → |
| Mammoth Spring At Mammoth Spring | 239 cfs | → |
| Black River At Black Rock | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Black River At Pocahontas | 2,890 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Sharp County
- Beach Road Hardy
- Highland Fun Park
- Highway 142 River Access
- East Walnut Street Oregon County
- Riverton West River Access
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Spring Lake 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 Spring Lake Dam
Where does the data for Spring Lake 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 Spring Lake Dam.