Greers Ferry Dam

Greers Ferry Dam is located on the Little Red River in Cleburne County in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It impounds Greers Ferry Lake. The dam is located north of Little Rock.

Greers Ferry Dam
Greers Ferry Dam in Cleburne County, Arkansas
Location of Greers Ferry Dam in Arkansas
CountryUnited States
LocationCleburne County, Arkansas
Coordinates35°31′15″N 91°59′36″W
StatusOperational
Construction began1959 (1959)
Opening date1962
Construction cost$46.5 million
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsLittle Red River
Height243 feet (74 m)
Length1,704 feet (519 m)
Reservoir
CreatesGreers Ferry Lake
Total capacity2,844,000 acre⋅ft (3.508 km3)
Surface area31,500 acres (12,700 ha)[1]
Normal elevation462 feet (141 m)
Power Station
Commission date1964
TypeConventional
Turbines2
Installed capacity96 megawatts (129,000 hp)
Annual generation189 gigawatt-hours (6.4×1011 BTU)[2]

Building the dam
Greers Ferry Dam

Construction of the dam began in March 1959 and was completed in December 1962. The lake serves the Heber Springs area flood control, and is a site for recreation and power generation. When construction began on the dam in 1956, hundreds of workers showed up looking for work. The newly hired workers then rented empty houses next to the construction site, and workers were even building their own homes next to the soon-to-be lake. Once all the workers arrived, people and business owners saw an opportunity in this construction and built motels, shops, and stores next to the construction site so workers would have a place to shop and relax. Farmers also felt the benefit of the construction, as work on the lake created demand for livestock and agriculture.

Dedication

After completion, the lake was dedicated on October 3, 1963 by John F. Kennedy.[3] The trip was his last major public appearance before his fateful trip to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, where he was assassinated. This event marks the only time a sitting president has visited Cleburne County. In his remarks in Heber Springs, Kennedy explained that the Greers Ferry project and others like it were investments in Arkansas and the nation's future. He was right - after the lake filled, tourism boomed, many businesses opened and reopened, and Greers Ferry Lake became one of Arkansas' leading destinations. Today, many resort communities dot the shores of Greers Ferry Lake.

Power plant

The dam supports a power plant with two generating units rated at 48,000 kilowatts per unit.[4]

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See also
  • List of Arkansas dams and reservoirs

References
  1. "Greers Ferry Dam 50th Anniversary Dedication Celebration Ceremony" (PDF). United States Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  2. "Greers Ferry Dam, A project of the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers" (PDF). Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce. October 3, 1963: 1. Retrieved August 2, 2011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Remarks in Heber Springs, Arkansas, at the Dedication of Greers Ferry Dam". The American Presidency Project. October 3, 1963. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  4. "Overview". USACE. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
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