Wolf Bayou Dam dam
Wolf Bayou Dam
Wolf Bayou Dam, located in Arkansas, is a federal structure managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This earth dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 1050 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4768 acre-feet. The dam is equipped with a controlled spillway with a width of 240 feet and has a low hazard potential, despite a poor condition assessment as of 2014.
Although the dam has not been modified since its construction, it poses a very high risk due to its age and condition. With a drainage area of 24.9 square miles and a maximum discharge of 720 cubic feet per second, Wolf Bayou Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite its poor condition, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures for critical infrastructure like Wolf Bayou Dam.
Enthusiasts interested in water resource management and climate adaptation can appreciate the complexities involved in maintaining aging infrastructure like Wolf Bayou Dam. With its unique design and historical significance, this federal structure serves as a reminder of the essential role dams play in regulating water flow, protecting downstream communities, and supporting ecological habitats. As discussions on climate change intensify, understanding the risks associated with structures like Wolf Bayou Dam becomes increasingly crucial for ensuring resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Wolf Bayou Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Bartholomew At Garrett Bridge | 19 cfs | → |
| Big Sunflower River Nr Merigold | 338 cfs | → |
| Big Sunflower River At Clarksdale | 1 cfs | → |
| Bayou Bartholomew Near Mcgehee | 66 cfs | → |
| White River At Devalls Bluff | 13,200 cfs | → |
| Bogue Phalia Nr Leland | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wolf Bayou Dam.
Boat launches
- Phillips Road 549 Phillips County
- Tedford Island Road Arkansas County
- Monroe County
- Lake Road Bolivar County
- Sigmon Road Coahoma County
Campgrounds
- Merrisach Lake Park - Merrisach Lake
- Notrebes Bend
- Wilbur D Mills
- Pendleton Bend
- Great River Road State Park
- Lake Charlie Capps
Fishing spots
Track Wolf Bayou 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 Wolf Bayou Dam
Where does the data for Wolf Bayou 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 Wolf Bayou Dam.