Narrows Dam facts for kids
Narrows Dam is a big wall built across the Little Missouri River (Arkansas) in Arkansas. It's about 6 miles north of Murfreesboro, Arkansas. This dam creates a large lake called Lake Greeson.
The main jobs of Narrows Dam are to control floods and to make electricity using the power of water. It also helps manage the water in the Ouachita River area. Lake Greeson is a popular spot for fun activities like boating and fishing, thanks to the dam.
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Making Electricity
The dam has a special building called a powerhouse. This building is next to the dam on the east side. Inside the powerhouse are three large machines. These machines use the flowing water to create electricity.
When the dam was first built, it had two of these machines. A third one was added later in 1969. On average, the dam produces enough electricity to power many homes each year.
Why It's Called Narrows Dam
The dam gets its name from the place where it was built. This spot on the river was known as "The Narrows."
During the building of the dam, a new lake was formed. Because of this, some old cemeteries and graveyards had to be moved. The Narrows Dam area is also home to a fun spot called the Swaha recreational area.
How Lake Greeson Works
Lake Greeson is like a giant storage tank with three different levels. Each level helps Narrows Dam do its job properly.
- The bottom part of the lake always stays full. This makes sure there's enough water pressure for the powerhouse to make electricity.
- The middle part is called "Power Storage." This water is used to control how much water flows into the dam's electricity-making machines.
- The top part is called "Flood Storage." This section is usually empty. It only fills up when there's heavy rain and the dam needs to hold back floodwater.
Controlling Water Flow
At the very top of the dam, there's a special channel called a spillway. This spillway helps control the water in the top part of the lake. It has walls that guide the water's flow.
At the bottom of the spillway, there's a "stilling basin." This basin helps slow down the water. It stops the fast-moving water from causing erosion and damaging the base of the dam. The spillway is not used very often. This is because floods can usually be controlled in other ways, like through special pipes.
However, in May 2009, there were very heavy rains. For the first time since 1968, water flowed over the spillway.
Building the Dam
The United States Army Corps of Engineers started building Narrows Dam in April 1947. The first batch of concrete was poured in June 1948. The dam was completed in 1950. It was officially opened in July 1951.
