Beaver Dam Work Underway
By J. Dickson Black (Written in 1961)
By J. Dickson Black (Written in 1961)
After several years of planning and preliminary work, the construction work has started on Beaver Dam.
Beaver Dam is the fourth major unit to be constructed in the upper White River Basin, for control and development of the White River and its tributaries. It is located on the White River in Carroll County, Arkansas, about 6 miles northwest of Eureka Springs.
Beaver Dam is the fourth major unit to be constructed in the upper White River Basin, for control and development of the White River and its tributaries. It is located on the White River in Carroll County, Arkansas, about 6 miles northwest of Eureka Springs.
Sign pointing to the Beaver Dam construction site.
The $51,100,000 federal project should be completed by June of 1966.
The main dam will be a concrete structure across the river channel. It is 1,333 feet long and 228 feet above the stream bed and will have a spillway section 328 feet across the main channel.
The main dam will be a concrete structure across the river channel. It is 1,333 feet long and 228 feet above the stream bed and will have a spillway section 328 feet across the main channel.
Headquarters for work being done on Beaver Dam
An all-earth embankment will run 1,242 feet from the left end of this and will be 132 above the stream bed. Three auxiliary dams of the embankment type will be constructed within a mile of the main dam. They will be 840, 682, and 475 feet long and about 28 feet high.
The dam will create a lake covering approximately 28,220 acres at normal elevation. When the dam is completed it will have a power capacity of 112,000 kilowatts.
The dam will create a lake covering approximately 28,220 acres at normal elevation. When the dam is completed it will have a power capacity of 112,000 kilowatts.
Bulldozer clearing trees in preparation for building the dam
A joint bid of $15,913,037.10 submitted by the construction firms of J. A. Jones of Charlotte, N. C., and T. L. James of Kenner, La., for initial construction work on the dam was awarded four months ago by the Corps of Engineers.
The reservoir will extend southwestward behind the dam, across parts of Carroll, Benton and Washington Counties, with the biggest part of it being in Benton County.
The reservoir will extend southwestward behind the dam, across parts of Carroll, Benton and Washington Counties, with the biggest part of it being in Benton County.
Crew working at dam site
The drainage area upstream from the dam will cover 1,186 square miles. The reservoir will be about 70 miles long. The full pool will have a maximum width of about 2 miles and will create a 483-mile shoreline.
All the dams along the White River have several benefits including flood control, electric power, and water supply for the towns in the area. They also will start a recreational area with boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, camping, and other sports.
All the dams along the White River have several benefits including flood control, electric power, and water supply for the towns in the area. They also will start a recreational area with boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, camping, and other sports.
Clearing land in preparation for starting work on the dam
Jesse W, Story is the resident engineer for Beaver Dam. He is a 1935 engineering graduate of Louisiana State University. He has worked at both Bull Shoals and Table Rock Dams.