Lake Ft Smith Dam dam
Lake Ft Smith Dam
Lake Ft Smith Dam, also known as Lower Ft Smith Dam, is a vital water resource located in Crawford, Arkansas. Built in 1936, this earth dam stands at a height of 196 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a normal storage capacity of 84,000 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 140,000 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Lake Ft Smith Dam has a high hazard potential and is not currently rated in terms of its condition assessment. The dam spans a length of 3,050 feet and sits on the Frog Bayou, with a drainage area of 75 square miles. With a maximum discharge capacity of 135,800 cubic feet per second, it is equipped to handle significant water flow and ensure the safety and stability of the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Lake Ft Smith Dam continues to provide essential water resources to the region, demonstrating the importance of proper maintenance and regulation of such critical infrastructure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find this dam to be a fascinating example of engineering and environmental management in action, showcasing the intersection of human intervention and natural systems in the face of changing climate 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 Lake Ft Smith Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Creek Near Winfrey | 0 cfs | → |
| Frog Bayou At Winfrey | 6 cfs | → |
| Jones Creek At Winfrey | 9 cfs | → |
| Mulberry River Near Mulberry. Ar | 283 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek Near Short | 103 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek At Short | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Ft Smith Dam.
Boat launches
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
- Aux Arcade Park Road Ozark
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- Ok 9a Arkoma
Campgrounds
- Lake Ft. Smith State Park
- Devils Den State Park
- Fort Smith Alma Rv Park
- Shores Lake Recreation Area
- Shores Lake
- White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Lake Ft Smith 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 Ft Smith Dam
Where does the data for Lake Ft Smith 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 Lake Ft Smith Dam.