Lake Wilhelmina Dam dam
Lake Wilhelmina Dam
Lake Wilhelmina Dam, located in Polk County, Arkansas, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1957 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 75 feet with a hydraulic height of 66 feet, this dam creates Lake Wilhelmina - a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 1680 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 2940 acre-feet. With a surface area of 200 acres and a drainage area of 13.8 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the condition of Lake Wilhelmina Dam is currently not rated. Regular inspections and enforcement by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment remain unclear, but its significance for recreation and water management in the area cannot be understated. As a key structure on Powell Creek, Lake Wilhelmina Dam serves as both a recreational destination and a vital component of the local water 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 Lake Wilhelmina Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar | 67 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 238 cfs | → |
| Cossatot River Near Vandervoort | 43 cfs | → |
| Mountain Fork At Smithville | 410 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Loving | 149 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Cauthron | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Wilhelmina Dam.
Boat launches
- Cedar Lake Road Le Flore County
- Polk Road 3 Polk County
- Polk Road 474 Polk County
- Gillham Lake Road Howard County
Campgrounds
- Camp Pioneer
- Queen Wilhelmina State Park
- Little Pines Recreation Area
- Little Pines
- Winding Stair Campground
- Winding Stair
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- Nf Boundary At Pine Ridge, Ar To Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar
- State Highway 4 To Broken Bow Lake
- Sec 30, T3s, R27w To Sec 19, T4s, R24w
- Confluence Of East And West Forks, Sec 7, T3s, R23e To Nf Boundary Sec 32, T4s, R23e
- Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar To Slackwater Of Lake Ouachita
Track Lake Wilhelmina 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 Wilhelmina Dam
Where does the data for Lake Wilhelmina 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 Lake Wilhelmina Dam.