Patocca Upper Lake Dam dam
Patocca Upper Lake Dam
Patocca Upper Lake Dam, located in Palmyra, Arkansas, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1974. The dam stands at a structural height of 18 feet and a hydraulic height of 12 feet, with a length of 760 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 24 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Sanders Creek, under the jurisdiction of the Little Rock District.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with a condition assessment of 'Not Rated,' the dam poses a moderate risk, according to the data. The spillway type is labeled as 'Uncontrolled,' with no outlet gates or associated structures. The dam has not been inspected for condition assessment, and no emergency action plan (EAP) has been prepared or updated.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Patocca Upper Lake Dam serves as a notable example of a privately owned recreational earth dam in Arkansas. Its construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its modest storage capacity make it an interesting site to study in the realm of water management and dam safety. Further assessment and risk management measures may be necessary to ensure the continued safety and functionality of this dam in the future.
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 Patocca Upper Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bayou Bartholomew At Garrett Bridge | 19 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Rye | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Moro Creek Near Fordyce | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Bayou Bartholomew Near Mcgehee | 66 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Sheridan | 469 cfs | → |
| Hurricane Creek Near Sheridan | 62 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Patocca Upper Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hunger Run East Drew County
- Harris Road Drew County
- Beachfront Drive Pine Bluff
- Saint Marie Park Road Pine Bluff
- Island Harbor Marina Road 1772, Pine Bluff
- Tedford Island Road Arkansas County
Campgrounds
- Cane Creek State Park
- Rising Star
- Trulock - Arkansas River
- Saracen Trace Rv Park
- Pine Bluff Aresenal Military
- Pendleton Bend
Fishing spots
Track Patocca Upper 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 Patocca Upper Lake Dam
Where does the data for Patocca Upper 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 Patocca Upper Lake Dam.