Lake Nixon Dam dam
Lake Nixon Dam
Lake Nixon Dam, located in Pulaski, Arkansas, is a privately owned structure designed for recreational purposes. Completed in 1946, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 246 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 238 acre-feet. With a surface area of 6.5 acres and a drainage area of 0.55 square miles, the dam regulates McHenry Creek Tributary and has a maximum discharge capacity of 1208 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Lake Nixon Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, its condition has not been rated. The last inspection conducted on September 22, 2015, revealed no major issues, but further assessments are needed to ensure the safety of the structure. With its picturesque setting and recreational offerings, Lake Nixon Dam serves as a vital resource for water and climate enthusiasts in the Little Rock area.
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 Nixon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek At 36th Street At Little Rock | 16 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Maumelle Dam At Natural Steps | · | → |
| Saline River At Benton | 97 cfs | → |
| Lake Maumelle At State Hwy 10 Near Wye | 293 cfs | → |
| Maumelle River At Williams Junction | 0 cfs | → |
| Alum Fork Saline River Near Reform | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Nixon Dam.
Boat launches
- Main Current Mtb Trail Little Rock
- Little Rock
- Cook's Landing Road North Little Rock
- Maumelle Park Road Pulaski County
- Arkansas River Trail North Little Rock
- I 30;Us 67;Us 70 Little Rock
Campgrounds
- Maumelle
- Burns Park
- Downtown Riverside Rv Park
- Camp Robinson Rv Military
- Willow Beach
- Little Rock Afb Military
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- East Line Of Nw 1/4, Sec 22, T2n, R17w To West Line Of Sec 26, T2n, R17w
- Forest Road 179 To East Line Of Nw 1/4 Sec 22, T2n, R17w
- Forest Road 132c To Forest Raod 179
- Lake Winona Dam To Southern Line Of Sec 16, T2n, R17w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
Track Lake Nixon 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 Nixon Dam
Where does the data for Lake Nixon 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 Nixon Dam.