Dougherty Lake Dam dam
Dougherty Lake Dam
Dougherty Lake Dam, located in Sharp, Arkansas, is a privately owned structure built in 1972 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at 45 feet high with a hydraulic height of 34 feet and a structural height of 40 feet. It spans a length of 420 feet and can store up to 500 acre-feet of water, with a normal storage capacity of 476 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Little Creek and has a surface area of 18.5 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Despite its low hazard potential, Dougherty Lake Dam is regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) and is subject to state inspection, permitting, and enforcement. The dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and its last inspection was conducted in September 2011. While the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, it does have a maximum discharge capacity of 530 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area offers a picturesque setting for outdoor activities and serves as a vital water resource for the local community.
With a rich history dating back to the early 1970s, Dougherty Lake Dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities and water storage capacity for the residents of Sharp, Arkansas. The dam's presence on Little Creek contributes to the overall ecological health of the region and supports various outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching. As a privately owned structure, Dougherty Lake Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between human enjoyment of the area and the conservation of its natural resources, making it a significant landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Dougherty Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River At Town Branch Bridge At Hardy | 377 cfs | → |
| White River At Batesville | 38,000 cfs | → |
| White River At Calico Rock | 2,020 cfs | → |
| Mammoth Spring At Mammoth Spring | 239 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Imboden | 428 cfs | → |
| North Sylamore Creek Near Fifty Six | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dougherty Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Dougherty 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 Dougherty Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dougherty 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 Low 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 Dougherty Lake Dam.