Vagabond Lake Dam dam
Vagabond Lake Dam
Vagabond Lake Dam, located in Sharp, Arkansas, is a local government-owned structure on Humphrey Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 53 feet and has a hydraulic height of 59 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2,100 acre-feet. The dam spans 850 feet in length and covers a surface area of 77 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities and water recreation.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC), Vagabond Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated," indicating a need for further evaluation. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are not specified, raising questions about the preparedness for potential incidents or disasters.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Vagabond Lake Dam can appreciate its scenic surroundings and recreational offerings, but may also be interested in the need for a thorough condition assessment, emergency preparedness measures, and a detailed risk management plan to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water resource infrastructure.
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 Vagabond Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River At Town Branch Bridge At Hardy | 393 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Imboden | 433 cfs | → |
| Elevenpoint River Near Ravenden Springs | 577 cfs | → |
| Mammoth Spring At Mammoth Spring | 239 cfs | → |
| Black River At Black Rock | 4,010 cfs | → |
| Black River At Pocahontas | 2,810 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vagabond 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 Vagabond 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 Vagabond Lake Dam
Where does the data for Vagabond 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 Vagabond Lake Dam.