Bull Shoals Dam dam
Bull Shoals Dam
Bull Shoals Dam, also known as Bull Shoals Lake, is a concrete gravity dam located in Cotter, Baxter County, Arkansas. Completed in 1951 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam stands at a height of 256 feet and has a structural height of 282 feet. The primary purpose of Bull Shoals Dam is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits including hydroelectric power generation, recreational opportunities, and water supply for the surrounding area.
With a maximum storage capacity of 5,408,000 acre-feet and a drainage area of 6,063 square miles, Bull Shoals Dam plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of flooding to downstream communities along the White River. However, despite its successful history, extreme rainfall events can still pose a threat to the area. The US Army Corps of Engineers implements ongoing risk management measures, including regular inspections, maintenance, and monitoring activities, as well as the development and updating of emergency action plans to ensure the dam's integrity and reduce the risk to surrounding communities. Despite the moderate risk assessment, the dam's Emergency Action Plan and Risk Reduction Plan aim to minimize potential life loss in case of unforeseen flooding events.
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 Bull Shoals Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near Norfork | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Harriet | 510 cfs | → |
| Bryant Creek Near Tecumseh | 323 cfs | → |
| North Fork River Near Tecumseh | 481 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near St. Joe | 379 cfs | → |
| White River At Calico Rock | 4,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bull Shoals Dam.
Boat launches
- Bull Shoals Dam Boulevard Bull Shoals
- Valley Airport Drive 380, Cotter
- Big Spring Parkway Cotter
- State Highway Hh Ozark County
- Shipps Ferry Road Baxter County
- Riverview Trail 1198, Norfork
Campgrounds
- Bull Shoals State Park
- Lakeview - Bull Shoals Lake
- Dam Site - Bull Shoals Lake
- Point Return City Park
- Oakland - Bull Shoals Lake
- Ozark Isle - Bull Shoals Lake
Fishing spots
- Bull Shoals Tailwater
- Little North Fork White River
- Trimble Creek
- Bull Shoals Lake
- Gunner Creek
- Langston Lake
Track Bull Shoals 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 Bull Shoals Dam
Where does the data for Bull Shoals 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 Bull Shoals Dam.