Craighead Forest Lake Dam dam
Craighead Forest Lake Dam
Craighead Forest Lake Dam, situated in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a local government-owned structure that stands as a significant contributor to the area's recreation sector. Completed in 1952, this earth-type dam boasts a height of 30.8 feet and serves the purpose of providing recreational opportunities to the community. With a normal storage capacity of 526 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 652 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in enhancing the surface area of the lake to 55 acres.
Managed under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC), Craighead Forest Lake Dam is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being labeled as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated. With a drainage area of 0.4 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 574 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a vital component in managing the Higginbottom Creek's water flow and overall hydrological dynamics in the region.
Located in the Little Rock District and overseen by the local government, Craighead Forest Lake Dam stands as a key recreational landmark in the Craighead County. As a significant structure for both water resource management and climate enthusiasts, the dam's role in providing leisure activities, regulating water flow, and supporting the local ecosystem underscores its importance in the community's environmental and social fabric.
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 Craighead Forest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache River At Egypt | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Black River At Black Rock | 5,510 cfs | → |
| Black River At Elgin Ferry | 8,690 cfs | → |
| White River At Newport | 31,400 cfs | → |
| Black River At Pocahontas | 3,490 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Imboden | 731 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Craighead Forest Lake Dam.
Track Craighead Forest 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 Craighead Forest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Craighead Forest 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 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 Craighead Forest Lake Dam.