Norwood Dam dam
Norwood Dam
Norwood Dam, located in Bella Vista Village, Arkansas, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1972 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 85 feet with a hydraulic height of 75 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 1320 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 910 acre-feet. The dam spans 645 feet in length and has a surface area of 35 acres, serving as a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Norwood Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and maintenance. With a significant hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, but regular inspections are conducted to monitor its integrity. Despite the lack of specific risk assessment measures in place, Norwood Dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities while maintaining a strong focus on safety and compliance with state regulations.
Although lacking in detailed emergency action plans and risk management protocols, Norwood Dam remains a key feature in the local landscape, offering residents and visitors a chance to appreciate the beauty of Sugar Creek and surrounding areas. With its picturesque setting and diverse wildlife, the dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also capturing the interest of those passionate about climate and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
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 Norwood Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sugar Creek Near Powell | 635 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Cave Springs | 58 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Lanagan | 980 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Elm Springs | 259 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek At Springtown | 5 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Maysville | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Norwood Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Drive 500, Bella Vista
- Lake Windsor Boat Ramp
- Lakeside Drive Bella Vista
- Lake Ann Boat Ramp
- Lancaster Drive Bella Vista
- Kensington Drive 38, 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 Norwood 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 Norwood Dam
Where does the data for Norwood 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 Norwood Dam.