Ricks Dam dam
Ricks Dam
Ricks Dam, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Bull Bayou, was completed in 1949 and serves as a crucial water supply source for the area. Owned by the local government, this earth dam stands at a height of 87 feet and has a storage capacity of 6720 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 5180 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 359 acres and has a drainage area of 3.3 square miles.
Despite its importance for water supply, Ricks Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and its condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam is regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2017. While the dam does not have a spillway, it has a maximum discharge capacity of 8000 cubic feet per second, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and management to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability.
With its significant role in water supply for the region, Ricks Dam highlights the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As an essential infrastructure for the community, ongoing risk assessments and management measures are crucial to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the long-term functionality of the dam. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of structures like Ricks Dam is key to fostering sustainable practices in water management and infrastructure development.
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 Ricks Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Hot Springs Creek At Hot Springs | 0 cfs | → |
| Ouachita River At Remmel Dam Above Jones Mill | 282 cfs | → |
| Alum Fork Saline River Near Reform | 1 cfs | → |
| Saline River At Benton | 128 cfs | → |
| Fourche Lafave River Near Aplin | 69 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Williams Junction | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ricks Dam.
Boat launches
- Forest Road Garland County
- Blakely Dam Road Garland County
- Stewart Circle 126, Garland County
- Brady Mountain Road Garland County
- Lena Use Area Cove Garland County
- Us 67 Midway
Campgrounds
- Cedar Glades Park
- Gulpha Gorge - Hot Springs National Park
- Gulpha Gorge Campground
- Lake Ouachita State Park
- Stephens - Lake Ouachita
- Brady Mountain - Lake Ouachita
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
- Lake Winona Dam To Southern Line Of Sec 16, T2n, R17w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
- Forest Road 179 To East Line Of Nw 1/4 Sec 22, T2n, R17w
- East Line Of Nw 1/4, Sec 22, T2n, R17w To West Line Of Sec 26, T2n, R17w
- Forest Road 132c To Forest Raod 179
Track Ricks 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 Ricks Dam
Where does the data for Ricks 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 Ricks Dam.