Cecil Lake Dam dam
Cecil Lake Dam
Cecil Lake Dam, located in Franklin, Arkansas, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1966 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 50 feet and has a hydraulic height of 44 feet, with a length of 1,085 feet and a storage capacity of 564 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Situated along the Arkansas River-OS, Cecil Lake Dam serves as a recreational spot for the local community, offering a surface area of 26 acres for various water-related activities. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 661 cubic feet per second, making it a key structure in managing water flow in the area. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its last inspection in 2014 confirmed its overall stability and safety for visitors and nearby residents.
With its picturesque location and essential role in water resource management, Cecil Lake Dam is a notable earth dam in Arkansas that not only provides recreational opportunities but also contributes to the environmental and hydrological balance of the region. As a privately owned structure, the dam's maintenance and operations are overseen by its owners, with support from state regulatory agencies to ensure its continued functionality and safety for all stakeholders involved.
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 Cecil Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry River Near Mulberry. Ar | 329 cfs | → |
| Jack Creek Near Winfrey | 0 cfs | → |
| Frog Bayou At Winfrey | 8 cfs | → |
| Jones Creek At Winfrey | 11 cfs | → |
| Petit Jean River Near Booneville | 59 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 11,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cecil Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Aux Arcade Park Road Ozark
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
- Cove Lake Bathhouse Road Logan County
Campgrounds
- Vine Prairie
- River Ridge - Ozark Lake
- Aux Arc
- Dogwood Drive - Lake Eufaula State Park
- Citadel Bluff
- Shores Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Cecil 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 Cecil Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cecil 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 Cecil Lake Dam.