Bruce Lake Dam dam
Bruce Lake Dam
Located in Piney, Arkansas, the Bruce Lake Dam is a private earth dam built in 1957 primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 26 feet and a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Situated on the Mill Creek-TR river, it also offers recreational opportunities for the local community.
Managed by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, the Bruce Lake Dam is regulated and inspected periodically to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. The surrounding area, with a drainage area of 0.18 square miles, relies on the dam for water supply and flood control, making it a vital infrastructure for both agricultural and environmental needs.
With its strategic location and significant role in water resource management, the Bruce Lake Dam serves as a valuable asset in sustaining the ecosystem and supporting various activities in Franklin County, Arkansas. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of maintaining and upgrading such structures becomes increasingly evident. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Bruce Lake is essential in promoting sustainable practices and ensuring the resilience of our communities in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Bruce Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry River Near Mulberry. Ar | 204 cfs | → |
| Jack Creek Near Winfrey | 0 cfs | → |
| Frog Bayou At Winfrey | 4 cfs | → |
| Jones Creek At Winfrey | 7 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek Near Short | 78 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 1,890 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bruce Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Aux Arcade Park Road Ozark
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- Ok 9a Arkoma
Campgrounds
- Shores Lake Recreation Area
- Shores Lake
- Lake Ft. Smith State Park
- Vine Prairie
- White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
- River Ridge - Ozark Lake
Fishing spots
Track Bruce 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 Bruce Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bruce 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 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 Bruce Lake Dam.