Bella Vista Lake Dam dam
Bella Vista Lake Dam
Bella Vista Lake Dam, located in Benton County, Arkansas, was completed in 1918 and serves as a recreational area for the community. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 183 acre-feet of water. The dam is situated on Little Sugar Creek and is owned by the local government, specifically the Bella Vista Development Department.
Despite its primary purpose for recreation, Bella Vista Lake Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam has not been inspected since July 1979, which raises concerns about its structural integrity and safety. There is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared for the dam, indicating a lack of preparedness in the event of a potential emergency or failure.
Overall, Bella Vista Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational resource for the community, but its age and lack of recent inspections raise concerns about its safety and maintenance. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should be aware of the potential risks associated with the dam and advocate for proper monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding area and residents.
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 Bella Vista Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Osage Creek Near Cave Springs | 31 cfs | → |
| Big Sugar Creek Near Powell | 46 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Elm Springs | 154 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek At Springtown | 5 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Lanagan | 88 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Maysville | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bella Vista Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeside Drive Bella Vista
- Kensington Drive 38, Bella Vista
- Tunnel Vision Bella Vista
- Lake Ann Boat Ramp
- Lake Windsor Boat Ramp
- Ashwell Lane 3, Bella Vista
Campgrounds
- Vacation Rentals
- Prairie Creek - Beaver Lake
- Lanagan Access City Park
- Rocky Branch - Beaver Lake
- Lost Bridge South - Beaver Lake
- Lost Bridge North - Beaver Lake
Fishing spots
Track Bella Vista Lake 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 Bella Vista Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bella Vista Lake 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 Bella Vista Lake Dam.