Pensacola East Spillway 1 dam
Pensacola East Spillway 1
Pensacola East Spillway 1, located in Mayes, Oklahoma, is an impressive gravity dam completed in 1940 for the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Standing at a structural height of 48 feet and a hydraulic height of 15 feet, this dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction and energy production in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 1,630,000 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 2,197,000 acre-feet, Pensacola East Spillway 1 serves as a vital water resource management structure in the Tulsa District.
The controlled spillway at Pensacola East Spillway 1 features a width of 407 feet and utilizes Tainter (radial) gates for water release. The dam is associated with two other structures and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, ensuring compliance with safety standards and inspections. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment for Pensacola East Spillway 1 is currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding area from potential emergencies.
With a history of serving the community for over 80 years, Pensacola East Spillway 1 remains a key infrastructure for water resource management and flood control in the Neosho River watershed. As climate change impacts intensify, the importance of maintaining and updating this critical structure is paramount to ensure the safety and resilience of the region against extreme weather events. The continued collaboration between state and federal agencies will be essential in implementing effective risk management strategies and emergency preparedness measures for Pensacola East Spillway 1.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Pensacola East Spillway 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neosho River Near Langley | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Eucha | 355 cfs | → |
| Big Cabin Creek Near Big Cabin | 252 cfs | → |
| Beaty Creek Near Jay | 22 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek Near South West City | 71 cfs | → |
| Neosho River Near Chouteau | 655 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pensacola East Spillway 1 .
Boat launches
- E0420 Road Mayes County
- 16th Street ,
- State Highway 43 Mcdonald County
- Rogers County
- Cripps Road Benton County
Campgrounds
- Cherokee State Park
- Spavinaw State Park
- Bernice State Park
- Honey Creek State Park
- Snowdale State Park
- Chouteau Bend - Fort Gibson Lake
Fishing spots
Track Pensacola East Spillway 1 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Pensacola East Spillway 1
Where does the data for Pensacola East Spillway 1 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Pensacola East Spillway 1 .