Sugar Loaf Lake Dam dam
Sugar Loaf Lake Dam
Sugar Loaf Lake Dam, located in Sebastian County, Arkansas, is a rockfill dam completed in 1954 for recreation purposes. Standing at a height of 60 feet with a hydraulic height of 50 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 4,676 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 11,150 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Johnson Branch, a stream in the city of Montreal, and is owned and regulated by the state with inspections and enforcement carried out by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC).
With a surface area of 386 acres and a drainage area of 1.7 square miles, Sugar Loaf Lake Dam has a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 2,264 cubic feet per second and does not have a spillway. While the dam does not have associated locks or outlet gates, it serves as a vital recreational area for locals and visitors to the region. The dam's last inspection was conducted in December 2016, and it is subject to regular state permitting and inspection processes.
Overall, Sugar Loaf Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and water storage in the area. Its high hazard potential underscores the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. As a state-regulated facility, the dam's operations are overseen by the ANRC, highlighting the collaborative effort between state agencies and local communities to manage and protect water resources in Arkansas.
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 Sugar Loaf Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James Fork Near Hackett | 14 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Cauthron | 20 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 135 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Loving | 32 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 25,500 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sugar Loaf Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Fort Coffee
- Ok 9a Arkoma
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
Campgrounds
- Fort Chaffee Rv Military
- Little Pines
- Little Pines Recreation Area
- Below The Dam - Lake Wister State Park
- Quarry Island - Lake Wister State Park
- Wards Landing - Lake Wister State Park
Fishing spots
Track Sugar Loaf 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 Sugar Loaf Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sugar Loaf 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 Sugar Loaf Lake Dam.