Spavinaw dam
Spavinaw
Spavinaw Lake, located in Mayes, Oklahoma, is a vital water supply reservoir managed by the local government and regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Constructed in 1922 by designers Hetgius Thomason and Bull, the earth dam stands at a height of 75 feet, with a storage capacity of 72,400 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,584 acres. The dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, drawing water from Spavinaw Creek and providing a crucial resource for the surrounding area.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 275,000 cubic feet per second and a controlled spillway, Spavinaw Lake plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in the region. The dam is inspected regularly, with a fair condition assessment and a high hazard potential, necessitating diligent monitoring and maintenance. Despite its age, Spavinaw Lake remains a key component of the water infrastructure in Oklahoma, ensuring a reliable water supply for the community and contributing to the resilience of the local ecosystem in the face of climate challenges.
Overall, Spavinaw Lake stands as a testament to the ingenuity of its designers and the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of a changing climate. With its history dating back nearly a century, the reservoir continues to serve as a critical water supply source, highlighting the essential role that infrastructure plays in supporting communities and ecosystems in the face of environmental threats.
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 Spavinaw -- 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 | → |
| Neosho River Near Chouteau | 655 cfs | → |
| Big Cabin Creek Near Big Cabin | 252 cfs | → |
| Beaty Creek Near Jay | 22 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Colcord | 108 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spavinaw.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Spavinaw State Park
- Cherokee State Park
- Snowdale State Park
- Chouteau Bend - Fort Gibson Lake
- Bernice State Park
- Honey Creek State Park
Fishing spots
Track Spavinaw 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 Spavinaw
Where does the data for Spavinaw 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 Spavinaw.