Floods of May 1968 in south Arkansas

The floods of May 1968 in south Arkansas produced the greatest peak discharges in the history of recorded streamflow at several gaging stations. Most notable of these floods was on Cossatot River near DeQueen, which has a continuous record since 1938. The peak discharge of 122,000 cubic feet per second was almost twice the previous maximum discharge of 62,000 cubic feet per second in 1961. At Lake Greeson near Murfreesboro, water flowed over the spillway for the first time since construction of the dam in 1949. The lake reached au elevation of 564.60 feet, which is 1.60 feet above the spillway crest. The previous maximum stage of 557.84 feet occurred in 1953. No lives were lost as a result of the flood, but property damage amounted to about .$18 million.

Heavy rains began on May 7 and continued to May 18. The periods of heaviest rainfall were May 9-10, 13, and 16-17. The maximum 24-hour rainfall recorded was 10.1 inches at Gillham Dam near DeQueen on May 13.