Mary Lake Dam, located in Sharp County, Arkansas, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1995 for recreational purposes.
Wind
Humidity
The dam stands at a height of 31.6 feet with a structural height of 38 feet and a hydraulic height of 29.6 feet. It has a capacity to store 269 acre-feet of water with a normal storage of 213 acre-feet and a surface area of 16 acres. The dam is situated on Turkey Creek and is managed by the Memphis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Mary Lake Dam has not been inspected since November 2006 and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. The dam has no emergency action plan in place, and there is limited information available on its risk assessment and management measures. While the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, its maintenance and safety protocols may need to be reevaluated to ensure the protection of surrounding communities and ecosystems in the event of a potential failure.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 650 cubic feet per second and no spillway system in place, there are concerns about the dam's ability to manage high water levels during extreme weather events. Climate change projections indicate an increased frequency and intensity of such events, highlighting the importance of regular inspections, maintenance, and emergency preparedness for dams like Mary Lake Dam to mitigate potential risks and protect water resources and communities downstream.
Year Completed |
1995 |
Dam Length |
415 |
Dam Height |
31.6 |
River Or Stream |
TURKEY CREEK |
Primary Dam Type |
Earth |
Surface Area |
16 |
Hydraulic Height |
29.6 |
Drainage Area |
2 |
Nid Storage |
269 |
Structural Height |
38 |
Hazard Potential |
Low |
Nid Height |
38 |
Spring River At Town Branch Bridge At Hardy
|
401cfs |
Mammoth Spring At Mammoth Spring
|
428cfs |
Spring River At Imboden
|
558cfs |
Elevenpoint River Near Ravenden Springs
|
644cfs |
Black River At Black Rock
|
4290cfs |
Black River At Pocahontas
|
3110cfs |