Lake Avalon Dam dam
Lake Avalon Dam
Lake Avalon Dam in Benton, Arkansas, is a private dam situated on Sturgeon Creek and managed by the Bella Vista Village. Completed in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 61 feet, with a hydraulic height of 50 feet and a structural height of 72 feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a storage capacity of 1400 acre-feet and a surface area of 56 acres.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Lake Avalon Dam poses a significant hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition. While it has been inspected in December 2015, the dam does not have an emergency action plan prepared or updated. Despite these factors, the dam remains a popular site for recreational activities in the area, offering a serene and picturesque location for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 7460 cubic feet per second, Lake Avalon Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow in the region. While the dam does not have associated locks or spillways, its construction and design reflect a commitment to maintaining recreational opportunities while ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure. For those interested in water resource management and climate impact, Lake Avalon Dam offers a fascinating case study of balancing recreation with regulatory requirements and risk assessment in a natural environment.
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 Avalon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sugar Creek Near Powell | 43 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Cave Springs | 31 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Lanagan | 86 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Elm Springs | 148 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Maysville | 37 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek At Springtown | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Avalon Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Windsor Boat Ramp
- Lancaster Drive Bella Vista
- Memorial Drive 500, Bella Vista
- Kensington Drive 38, Bella Vista
- Lakeside Drive Bella Vista
- Tunnel Vision Bella Vista
Campgrounds
- Vacation Rentals
- Lanagan Access City Park
- Prairie Creek - Beaver Lake
- Rocky Branch - Beaver Lake
- Lost Bridge South - Beaver Lake
- Lost Bridge North - Beaver Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lake Avalon 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 Avalon Dam
Where does the data for Lake Avalon 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 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 Avalon Dam.