Bethesda Lake Dam dam
Bethesda Lake Dam
Bethesda Lake Dam, located in Polk County, Arkansas, is a private dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1922, the earth dam stands at a height of 32.6 feet and has a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Situated on Dallas Creek, the dam boasts a surface area of 5 acres and serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment and is currently labeled as "Not Rated" in terms of its structural integrity.
With a high hazard potential, Bethesda Lake Dam is regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it poses a significant risk in the event of a breach due to its location and potential impact on downstream areas. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are currently unknown, raising concerns among water resource and climate enthusiasts about the overall safety and management of the structure.
As a key feature in the recreational landscape of Dallas, Arkansas, Bethesda Lake Dam serves as both a popular destination for outdoor activities and a potential source of concern for its high hazard potential. With an outdated last inspection date of 1992 and an unknown emergency action plan status, the dam's overall safety and risk management measures are unclear. Water resource and climate enthusiasts are urged to stay informed about the condition of Bethesda Lake Dam and advocate for updated assessments and risk mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Bethesda Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cossatot River Near Vandervoort | 43 cfs | → |
| Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar | 67 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 238 cfs | → |
| Mountain Fork At Smithville | 410 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River Near Langley | 23 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Cauthron | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethesda Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Polk Road 3 Polk County
- Polk Road 474 Polk County
- Gillham Lake Road Howard County
- Blue Ridge Road Howard County
- Sevier County
Campgrounds
- Camp Pioneer
- Queen Wilhelmina State Park
- Sand Bar Bridge - Cossatot River State Park
- Cossatot Falls - Cossatot River State Park
- Bard Springs
- Bard Springs Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- Nf Boundary At Pine Ridge, Ar To Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar
- Sec 30, T3s, R27w To Sec 19, T4s, R24w
- State Highway 4 To Broken Bow Lake
- Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar To Slackwater Of Lake Ouachita
- Confluence Of East And West Forks, Sec 7, T3s, R23e To Nf Boundary Sec 32, T4s, R23e
Track Bethesda 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 Bethesda Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bethesda 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 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 Bethesda Lake Dam.