Gish Dam dam
Gish Dam
Gish Dam, located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1970 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Standing at a height of 23 feet and stretching 700 feet in length, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 198 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 178 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
The dam, which is situated on a tributary to Sahoma Lake, has a controlled spillway with a width of 6 feet and one outlet valve. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, it is considered to have a very high risk due to its location and the potential consequences of failure. However, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, and there are no emergency action plans in place. With a drainage area of 0.09 square miles and a maximum discharge of 950 cubic feet per second, Gish Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gish Dam offers a fascinating case study in flood risk reduction and dam management. Its design, construction, and operation provide valuable insights into the challenges and considerations involved in maintaining critical infrastructure for water control. As efforts continue to assess and mitigate risks associated with the dam, stakeholders and regulators must work together to ensure the safety and sustainability of this essential water resource facility.
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 Gish Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Creek At 61st St At Tulsa | 11 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Tulsa | 15,400 cfs | → |
| Flat Rock Creek At Cincinnati Ave At Tulsa | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Haikey Creek At 101st St South At Tulsa | 0 cfs | → |
| Haikey Creek At 101st St South At Tulsa | 35 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek At Tulsa | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gish Dam.
Track Gish Dam 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 Gish Dam
Where does the data for Gish Dam 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 Gish Dam.