Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68 dam
Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68
The SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68, located in Noble County, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1975 by the USDA NRCS. With a height of 43 feet and a length of 1450 feet, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Willow Creek. It has a storage capacity of 1522 acre-feet and a normal storage of 256 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge rate of 2970 cubic feet per second.
The dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential and is currently in fair condition according to the last inspection in 2011. It features a controlled spillway with a width of 2 feet and is equipped with a single valve outlet gate. The risk assessment for this dam is very high (1), indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and effectiveness of its flood control measures. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the OWRB and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts with an interest in the infrastructure and management of flood control structures will find the SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68 to be a fascinating case study. Its design, construction, and ongoing regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in a dynamic and changing environment. With its strategic location in the Tulsa District and its significant impact on the local watershed, this dam serves as a crucial component of the region's flood risk reduction efforts.
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-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bear Creek At Pawnee | 13 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 73 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Ripley | 345 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ralston | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Skeleton Creek Near Lovell | 17 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Guthrie | 372 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68.
Track Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68 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-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68
Where does the data for Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68 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 Significant 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-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-68.