Mcalester Lake dam
Mcalester Lake
Mcalester Lake, located in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, is a gravity dam built in 1930 primarily for water supply purposes. With a capacity of 16,170 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,521 acres, the lake provides essential water resources to the local community. The dam stands at a height of 35 feet, with a spillway type of controlled and a spillway width of 4 feet, ensuring safety and efficiency in managing water levels.
Managed by the local government of North McAlester, Mcalester Lake is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Despite being labeled as a low hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is rated as very high, emphasizing the importance of thorough risk management measures. With a designated emergency action plan and regular inspections, the lake ensures the safety and well-being of the surrounding area in the event of any unforeseen emergencies related to the dam.
Overall, Mcalester Lake stands as a crucial water resource infrastructure in Oklahoma, providing a reliable water supply to the community while prioritizing safety and risk management. Its strategic location on Bull Creek, managed by the local government and regulated by state agencies, highlights the collaborative efforts in maintaining and safeguarding this essential resource for water and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Mcalester Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian River At Calvin | 354 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Wetumka | 214 cfs | → |
| Canadian River Near Whitefield | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Fourche Maline Near Red Oak | 6 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Sasakwa | 57 cfs | → |
| Kiamichi River Near Clayton | 680 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcalester Lake.
Track Mcalester 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 Mcalester Lake
Where does the data for Mcalester 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 Mcalester Lake.