Scs-Salt Creek Site-40 dam
Scs-Salt Creek Site-40
SCS-Salt Creek Site-40, located in Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed by the USDA NRCS in 1969 for flood risk reduction purposes along the TR-BRUNO CREEK. Standing at a height of 33 feet with a length of 850 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 463 acre-feet and a spillway type of Controlled. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, it is categorized as having a very high risk assessment due to its age and lack of recent inspections.
Owned and operated by the state of Oklahoma, this dam is in need of further assessment and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks in the area. With a historical inspection date of 1980 and a current condition assessment of 'Not Rated', there is a need for more frequent inspections and potential upgrades to meet modern safety standards. The presence of only one valve outlet gate and the lack of recent Emergency Action Plans raise concerns about the dam's ability to respond to potential emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, SCS-Salt Creek Site-40 serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure like dams to protect communities from the impacts of extreme weather events. The involvement of the USDA NRCS in its design and the state's regulatory oversight through the OWRB highlight the collaborative efforts necessary to ensure the safety and functionality of such structures. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water management, investing in the upkeep and modernization of dams like SCS-Salt Creek Site-40 is vital for safeguarding against future flood risks and ensuring the resilience of water resources in Oklahoma.
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 Scs-Salt Creek Site-40 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Tecumseh | 35 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Sasakwa | 82 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River At Shawnee | 242 cfs | → |
| Little River Blw Lk Thunderbird Nr Norman | 1 cfs | → |
| Canadian River At Purcell | 289 cfs | → |
| Washita River Near Pauls Valley | 143 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Salt Creek Site-40.
Track Scs-Salt Creek Site-40 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 Scs-Salt Creek Site-40
Where does the data for Scs-Salt Creek Site-40 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 Scs-Salt Creek Site-40.