Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50 dam
Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50
SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50, located in Noble, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along East Warren Creek. Constructed in 1966, this dam stands at 40 feet in height and spans a length of 1000 feet, with a storage capacity of 480 acre-feet. With a controlled spillway and one valve outlet gate, this dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition.
Despite its age, SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50 has not undergone recent inspections since November 1999, and its risk assessment is deemed very high. The dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are also not updated. Even though it is not under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam's critical importance for flood control purposes in the area highlights the need for regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure its effectiveness and safety for the surrounding community and environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this site serves as a reminder of the vital role dams play in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks, underscoring the importance of proactive management and oversight to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure long-term sustainability.
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 Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Creek Near Lovell | 17 cfs | → |
| Skeleton Creek At Enid | 2 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Guthrie | 372 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 73 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Seward | 781 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Dover | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50 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 Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50
Where does the data for Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50 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 Low 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 Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-50.