Blue Lake Dam dam
Blue Lake Dam
Blue Lake Dam, located in Polk, Arkansas, was completed in 1976 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam is privately owned and stands at a structural height of 21 feet, with a hydraulic height of 17 feet. Blue Lake Dam regulates McKinney Creek and has a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 34 acre-feet.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, Blue Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam has not undergone recent inspections, and emergency action plans are not currently prepared or up to date. The surrounding area, including Potter Junction, relies on the dam for recreational activities and water storage. The dam poses little risk but lacks comprehensive risk assessment and management measures.
Blue Lake Dam, part of the Little Rock District under the US Army Corps of Engineers, serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area. While it provides recreational opportunities and regulates water flow in McKinney Creek, there are concerns about the lack of recent inspections and emergency preparedness. The dam's location and structure make it an important feature in the region, prompting the need for further evaluation and risk management measures to ensure its long-term sustainability and safety.
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 Blue Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cossatot River Near Vandervoort | 43 cfs | → |
| Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar | 67 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 238 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 Blue Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Polk Road 3 Polk County
- Polk Road 474 Polk County
- Gillham Lake Road Howard County
- Blue Ridge Road Howard County
- Sevier County
Campgrounds
- Camp Pioneer
- Queen Wilhelmina State Park
- Sand Bar Bridge - Cossatot River State Park
- Cossatot Falls - Cossatot River State Park
- Bard Springs
- Bard Springs Recreation Area
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
- Sec 30, T3s, R27w To Sec 19, T4s, R24w
- State Highway 4 To Broken Bow Lake
- Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar To Slackwater Of Lake Ouachita
- Confluence Of East And West Forks, Sec 7, T3s, R23e To Nf Boundary Sec 32, T4s, R23e
Track Blue 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 Blue Lake Dam
Where does the data for Blue 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 Blue Lake Dam.