Oteka Lake dam
Oteka Lake
Located in Marshall County, Oklahoma, Oteka Lake is a privately owned reservoir primarily used for water supply. Constructed in 1962, this Earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a capacity of 1,120 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 380 acre-feet, Oteka Lake covers an area of 47 acres and is fed by Turkey Creek.
Managed by the OWRB and regulated by the state of Oklahoma, Oteka Lake has a controlled spillway with a width of 2 feet. Although the dam has a low hazard potential, it is considered to have a very high risk rating. The last inspection in 2010 found the dam to be in a not rated condition, with a recommended inspection frequency of every 5 years. Despite its small size, Oteka Lake plays a crucial role in the local water resource management and climate adaptation efforts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Oteka Lake offers a fascinating case study in dam construction and management. With its stone core and soil foundation, this reservoir serves as a vital water supply source in the region. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the importance of well-maintained infrastructure like Oteka Lake cannot be overstated.
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 Oteka Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Washita River Near Dickson | 374 cfs | → |
| Pennington Creek Near Reagan | 19 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Connerville | 214 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek At Sulphur | 12 cfs | → |
| Red River At Denison Dam Nr Denison | 45 cfs | → |
| Red River Near Gainesville | 466 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oteka Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Road Marshall County
- Grayson County
- Paw Paw Creek Road Grayson County
- Guy Sandy Road Murray County
Campgrounds
- Pennington Creek Park
- Martins Landing Campground
- Martins Landing - Lake Murray State Park
- Rock Tower - Lake Murray State Park
- Field Trial Area - Lake Murray State Park
- Cedar Grove - Lake Murray State Park
More reservoirs
Track Oteka Lake 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 Oteka Lake
Where does the data for Oteka Lake 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 Oteka Lake.