Copeland Dam dam
Copeland Dam
Copeland Dam, also known as Watson Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Faulkner, Arkansas, along the Little River. Completed in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 46 feet and spans 450 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, Copeland Dam primarily serves as a recreational site for water enthusiasts in the area.
Managed by the Vicksburg District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Copeland Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While the dam has not been inspected since June 2014, it remains under state regulation and inspection by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Despite the lack of recent inspection data, the dam's primary purpose of recreation continues to attract visitors to its 20-acre surface area.
As a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure, Copeland Dam plays a crucial role in managing the flow of the Little River and providing recreational opportunities for the community. With its serene location and historical significance, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and preserving our water resources for future generations to enjoy.
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 Copeland Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maumelle River At Maumelle Dam At Natural Steps | · | → |
| Rock Creek At 36th Street At Little Rock | 16 cfs | → |
| Cadron Creek Near Guy | 50 cfs | → |
| Lake Maumelle At State Hwy 10 Near Wye | 293 cfs | → |
| Bayou Meto Near Lonoke | 130 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Williams Junction | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Copeland Dam.
Boat launches
- Arkansas River Trail North Little Rock
- North Little Rock
- Cook's Landing Road North Little Rock
- Little Rock
- Maumelle Park Road Pulaski County
- Main Current Mtb Trail Little Rock
Campgrounds
- Little Rock Afb Military
- Camp Robinson Rv Military
- Burns Park
- Maumelle
- Downtown Riverside Rv Park
- Toad Suck Ferry
Fishing spots
- Bailey Lake
- Craig D Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
- Lake Cherrywood
- Lake Valencia
- Little Maumelle River
- Macarthur Park Pond
Paddle runs
- East Line Of Nw 1/4, Sec 22, T2n, R17w To West Line Of Sec 26, T2n, R17w
- Forest Road 179 To East Line Of Nw 1/4 Sec 22, T2n, R17w
- Forest Road 132c To Forest Raod 179
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
- Lake Winona Dam To Southern Line Of Sec 16, T2n, R17w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
Track Copeland 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 Copeland Dam
Where does the data for Copeland 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 Copeland Dam.