Lake Atkins Dam dam
Lake Atkins Dam
Located in Pope County, Arkansas, Lake Atkins Dam is a state-owned earth dam completed in 1946 for recreational purposes. With a height of 25 feet and a length of 2200 feet, the dam impounds the waters of Horsehead Branch, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 13,928 acre-feet. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC).
The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, providing a surface area of 752 acres for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The reservoir has a normal storage capacity of 7760 acre-feet and serves as a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Despite being classified as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the dam is regularly inspected to ensure public safety and prevent any potential risks associated with its operation.
Steve Womack (R) represents the area in the United States Congress, and the dam falls under the jurisdiction of the Little Rock District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With its picturesque location and ample recreational opportunities, Lake Atkins Dam stands as a vital water resource for the community, offering both relaxation and environmental enrichment for visitors 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 Lake Atkins Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Point Remove Creek Near Hattieville | 80 cfs | → |
| Fourche Lafave River Near Aplin | 396 cfs | → |
| Illinois Bayou Near Scottsville | 156 cfs | → |
| Big Piney Creek At Highway 164 Near Dover | 185 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Williams Junction | 1 cfs | → |
| Petit Jean River At Danville | 589 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Atkins Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Front Drive Illinois Township
- Wildlife Observation Trail Pope County
- Yellow Mtb Trail Faulkner County
- Piney Bay Campground Johnson County
Campgrounds
- Petit Jean State Park
- Cherokee
- Point Remove Park
- Sequoya Park
- Riverview - Lake Dardanelle
- Lake Dardanelle State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
- Forest Road 132c To Forest Raod 179
- Forest Road 179 To East Line Of Nw 1/4 Sec 22, T2n, R17w
- East Line Of Nw 1/4, Sec 22, T2n, R17w To West Line Of Sec 26, T2n, R17w
- Lake Winona Dam To Southern Line Of Sec 16, T2n, R17w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
Track Lake Atkins 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 Lake Atkins Dam
Where does the data for Lake Atkins 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 Significant 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 Lake Atkins Dam.