Shadow Lake Dam dam
Shadow Lake Dam
Shadow Lake Dam, located in Sebastian County, Arkansas, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Completed in 1975, this earth dam stands at a height of 52 feet and has a hydraulic height of 58 feet, with a storage capacity of 3,326 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Bear Creek-TR and spans 900 feet in length, covering a surface area of 70 acres.
Despite its recreational focus, the dam is regulated by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, with state jurisdiction and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance. With a high hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance. While no emergency action plan appears to have been prepared, the dam's last inspection in June 2017 indicates a commitment to regular safety checks. Overall, Shadow Lake Dam represents a vital water resource in the region, serving both recreational and regulatory purposes.
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 Shadow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James Fork Near Hackett | 20 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 2,720 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 274 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek Near Short | 94 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Cauthron | 28 cfs | → |
| Petit Jean River Near Booneville | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shadow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- Ok 9a Arkoma
- Fort Coffee
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
Campgrounds
- Fort Chaffee Rv Military
- Charleston Lake
- Lee Creek Public Use Area
- River Ridge - Ozark Lake
- Fort Smith Alma Rv Park
- Vine Prairie
Fishing spots
Track Shadow 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 Shadow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shadow 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 Shadow Lake Dam.