Paris Dam dam
Paris Dam
Paris Dam, located in Logan County, Arkansas, along Short Mountain Creek, is a significant Earth dam completed in 1939 with a height of 55.3 feet and a storage capacity of 5,349 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is to create a Fish and Wildlife Pond, while also serving for recreation and water supply. Despite its historical significance, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and is in poor condition as of the last assessment in March 2020.
Managed by the local government, Paris Dam falls under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam's critical role in flood control and water resource management is evident in its drainage area of 44.2 square miles and maximum discharge capacity of 77,000 cubic feet per second. Although the dam lacks certain safety features like spillways and outlet gates, efforts are being made to ensure its continued functionality and safety for the surrounding community.
With its unique blend of ecological, recreational, and water supply functions, Paris Dam stands as a reminder of the intricate relationship between water resources and climate resilience. As water enthusiasts and climate advocates, understanding the significance and challenges facing dams like Paris Dam is crucial in fostering sustainable water management practices and ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities 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 Paris Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Petit Jean River Near Booneville | 59 cfs | → |
| Dutch Creek At Waltreak | · | → |
| Petit Jean River At Danville | 739 cfs | → |
| Fourche Lafave River Near Gravelly | 89 cfs | → |
| Mulberry River Near Mulberry. Ar | 329 cfs | → |
| Big Piney Creek At Highway 164 Near Dover | 251 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paris Dam.
Boat launches
- Cove Lake Bathhouse Road Logan County
- County Road 539 Yell County
- Logan County
- Cane Creek Recreation Road 2199, Logan County
- Aux Arcade Park Road Ozark
- Spadra Park Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cove Lake Complex
- Cove Lake Recreation Area
- Cameron Bluff
- Mount Magazine State Park
- Magazine Municipal Rv Park
- Dogwood Drive - Lake Eufaula State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar To Slackwater Of Lake Ouachita
- North Fork Illinois Bayou To Headwaters Below Pedestal Rock
- Nf Boundary At Pine Ridge, Ar To Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- Headwaters Sec 2, T1n, R20w To Sec 7, T1n, R19w
- Headwaters Sec 2, T2n, R18w To Forest Road 132c
Track Paris 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 Paris Dam
Where does the data for Paris 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 Paris Dam.