Gillham Dam dam
Gillham Dam
Gillham Dam, also known as Gillham Lake, is a concrete dam located in Gillham, Arkansas, constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1975. The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, with additional functions including recreation and water supply. Standing at a height of 160 feet and spanning a length of 900 feet, the dam has a capacity of 221,800 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,300 acres.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Gillham Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region. Regular inspections and maintenance are conducted to ensure the dam's structural integrity and readiness for emergencies. The dam has a high hazard potential, and the Corps actively engages with local emergency managers and the public to raise awareness and develop emergency response plans.
Despite its risk management measures, all dams, including Gillham Dam, have limitations in their ability to prevent all flooding events. The US Army Corps of Engineers continuously monitors the dam's condition and collaborates with local authorities to enhance readiness and emergency preparedness. As severe weather events can impact water levels, the Corps maintains a proactive approach to address potential risks and ensure the safety and resilience of Gillham Dam and the surrounding community.
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 Gillham Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cossatot River Near Vandervoort | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Lockesburg | 41 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River Near Langley | 24 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Horatio | 2,720 cfs | → |
| Mountain Fork Near Eagletown | 278 cfs | → |
| Mountain Fork At Smithville | 14,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gillham Dam.
Boat launches
- Gillham Lake Road Howard County
- Polk Road 474 Polk County
- Polk Road 3 Polk County
- Sevier County
- Blue Ridge Road Howard County
Campgrounds
- Cossatot Reefs - Gillham Lake
- Big Coon Creek - Gillham Lake
- Little Coon Creek - Gillham Lake
- Cossatot Falls - Cossatot River State Park
- Sand Bar Bridge - Cossatot River State Park
- Blue Ridge - Dierks Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sec 30, T3s, R27w To Sec 19, T4s, R24w
- State Highway 4 To Broken Bow Lake
- Nf Boundary At Pine Ridge, Ar To Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- 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 Gillham 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 Gillham Dam
Where does the data for Gillham 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 Gillham Dam.