Gillham Dam water level — Arkansas
Gillham Dam in Arkansas was last measured at 502.09 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). That is 99.4% of conservation-pool capacity. Over its recent trend window the level has been rising (+0.7 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- 99.4%
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↑Rising
+0.7 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Jun 7, 2026 — a 5-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USACE SWL/Gillham_Dam-Headwater, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Gillham Dam
Gillham Dam is held back by Gillham Dam (also recorded as Gillham Lake) , a concrete structure , standing 160 ft high and running 900 ft along its crest , built across COSSATOT in Howard County , near GILLHAM . It was completed in 1975 , and is owned by USACE - Little Rock District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to CESWT.
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;recreation;water supply.
It is founded on rock;soil, with a earth core. NID records no spillway for it. The spillway opening is 0 ft wide.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 1,300 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 221,800 acre-ft against a normal storage of 33,100 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 272,700 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record AR01200 , filed by US Army Corps of Engineers — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USACE CWMS Data and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Gillham Dam compares nearby
Gillham Dam is at 99.4% of conservation-pool capacity. Of the 3 nearest lakes reporting a comparable figure, none are fuller, and 3 are lower. The fullest nearby is Dierks Dam at 90% and the lowest is Broken Bow Lake at 82.8%. 4 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also rising right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline River | AR | 524.83 ft | 14 km |
| Dierks Dam | AR | 524.83 ft | 14 km |
| Dequeen Dam | AR | 435.14 ft | 19 km |
| Ltl Missouri Riv | AR | 730.17 ft | 32 km |
| Broken Bow Lake | OK | 597.01 ft | 44 km |
| Narrows | AR | 539.09 ft | 48 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Gillham Dam?
- As of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 502.09 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Gillham Dam full right now?
- The source reports it at 99.4% of conservation-pool capacity as of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00).
- Where does this data come from?
- From USACE SWL/Gillham_Dam-Headwater, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Arkansas
See every lake tracked in Arkansas, or read the methodology behind these figures.