Wentz dam
Wentz
Wentz, also known as Wentz Lake, is a privately owned reservoir located in Duck Creek, Kay County, Oklahoma. Managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, this earth dam structure stands at a height of 28 feet and has a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, Wentz serves primarily for purposes other than flood control or water supply, with a spillway width of 2 feet.
With a low hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, Wentz is inspected every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the reservoir is equipped with a valve outlet gate and has a controlled spillway type. The surrounding area covers 17 acres and the dam is designed to withstand a maximum discharge rate of 1860 cubic feet per second.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wentz presents an intriguing case study in dam safety and risk management. Its location on TR Duck Creek, within the Tulsa District of Oklahoma, highlights the critical role of private owners and state regulatory agencies in maintaining the integrity of water infrastructure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the monitoring and maintenance of structures like Wentz will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supply systems.
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 Wentz -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chikaskia River Near Blackwell | 293 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Arkansas City | 841 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 95 cfs | → |
| Walnut R At Winfield | 211 cfs | → |
| Slate C At Wellington | 25 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia R Nr Corbin | 176 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wentz.
Boat launches
- East Hubbard Road Ponca City
- North Pond Trail Arkansas City
- East Madison Avenue Arkansas City
- Snake Road Ponca City
- Ponca City
Campgrounds
Track Wentz 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 Wentz
Where does the data for Wentz 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 Wentz.