Sutton Wilderness Lake dam
Sutton Wilderness Lake
Sutton Wilderness Lake, located in Norman, Oklahoma, is a man-made reservoir with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1960. Managed by the local government, this lake serves as a vital resource for the community, with a primary purpose classified as "Other." The dam, constructed primarily of Earth with Stone core types, stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet, providing essential water storage for the region.
With a surface area of 21 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 500 cubic feet per second, Sutton Wilderness Lake is a significant water body in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. The dam is designed for flood control, with a controlled spillway and one outlet valve to manage water levels effectively. Despite being rated as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with regular inspections and maintenance ensuring its safety and functionality.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sutton Wilderness Park, this lake offers a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities and appreciate the importance of sustainable water management practices. Its location as a tributary of the Little River adds to its ecological significance, making Sutton Wilderness Lake a valuable asset to the community and a symbol of the harmonious coexistence between human development and environmental conservation.
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 Sutton Wilderness Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian River At Norman | 116 cfs | → |
| Little River Blw Lk Thunderbird Nr Norman | 1 cfs | → |
| Canadian River At Purcell | 289 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Purcell | 40 cfs | → |
| North Criner Creek Near Criner | 0 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Blw Lk Overholser Nr Okc | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sutton Wilderness Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Draper Trail Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma City
- Little Gravel Road Little Axe
- Oklahoma Greenway Trail Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma River Trail - North Oklahoma City
Track Sutton Wilderness Lake 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 Sutton Wilderness Lake
Where does the data for Sutton Wilderness Lake 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 Sutton Wilderness Lake.