Lock And Dam No 8 dam
Lock And Dam No 8
Lock and Dam No 8, located on the Ouachita River in Union County, Arkansas, is a gravity dam completed in 1911 primarily for navigation purposes. With a dam height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 19 feet, this structure plays a crucial role in maintaining water levels for efficient navigation along the river. The dam has a storage capacity of 85,000 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 59,200 acre-feet, and is capable of discharging up to 6,500 cubic feet per second.
Despite being over a century old, Lock and Dam No 8 has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years and has not been inspected since January 1990. While it may not be a high-risk structure, the importance of regular inspections and maintenance cannot be understated to ensure the continued safe operation of Lock and Dam No 8. As a federally-owned structure, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Vicksburg District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lock and Dam No 8 serves as a reminder of the vital infrastructure that supports navigation and water management along rivers like the Ouachita. Its historical significance, coupled with its ongoing role in facilitating transportation and flood control, underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water systems, structures like Lock and Dam No 8 will play a crucial role in adapting to and mitigating the effects of a changing climate on our water resources.
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 Lock And Dam No 8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smackover Creek Near Smackover | 37 cfs | → |
| Little Corney Bayou Near Lillie | 31 cfs | → |
| Ouachita River At Camden | 2,000 cfs | → |
| Moro Creek Near Fordyce | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Rye | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Chemin-A-Haut Byu Nr Beekman | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lock And Dam No 8.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Old Lock And Dam 8
- Moro Bay State Park
- Crossett Rv Park
- Grand Marais County Park
- Sugar Creek Hunter Camp
Fishing spots
Track Lock And Dam No 8 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 Lock And Dam No 8
Where does the data for Lock And Dam No 8 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 Lock And Dam No 8.