Balboa Lake Dam dam
Balboa Lake Dam
Balboa Lake Dam, located in Whittington, Arkansas, is a privately owned structure built for recreational purposes along the Cedar Creek. Completed in 1986, this earth-filled dam stands at a height of 49 feet and spans a length of 6246 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 33,937 acre-feet. The dam's normal storage capacity is 23,688 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 892 acres and serving a drainage area of 15.4 square miles.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC), Balboa Lake Dam has a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam has not been inspected recently as of the last recorded inspection in January 2017, and no emergency action plan (EAP) has been prepared. Despite these concerns, the dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities in the area and remains a significant feature along the Cedar Creek. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Balboa Lake Dam offers an intriguing case study in dam management and environmental stewardship 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 Balboa Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Alum Fork Saline River Near Reform | 1 cfs | → |
| West Fork Hot Springs Creek At Hot Springs | · | → |
| Ouachita River At Remmel Dam Above Jones Mill | 3,080 cfs | → |
| Saline River At Benton | 101 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Williams Junction | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Maumelle At State Hwy 10 Near Wye | 293 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Balboa Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Forest Road Garland County
- Rivercrest Circle 18, Benton
- Stewart Circle 126, Garland County
- West Colonel Glenn Road Saline County
- Blakely Dam Road Garland County
- Lena Use Area Cove Garland County
Campgrounds
- Gulpha Gorge - Hot Springs National Park
- Gulpha Gorge Campground
- Cedar Glades Park
- Lake Catherine State Park
- Lake Ouachita State Park
- Lake Sylvia Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lake Winona Dam To Southern Line Of Sec 16, T2n, R17w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
- 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
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
- Forest Road 132c To Forest Raod 179
Track Balboa 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 Balboa Lake Dam
Where does the data for Balboa 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 Balboa Lake Dam.