South Oaks Pond dam
South Oaks Pond
South Oaks Pond, located in Bixby, Oklahoma, serves as a vital flood risk reduction structure along the TR-ARKANSAS RIVER. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and stretches 300 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. Despite its small surface area of 8 acres and low hazard potential, the pond plays a crucial role in mitigating potential flood risks in the area.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, South Oaks Pond undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. With a maximum discharge of 291 cubic feet per second, the controlled spillway and valve outlet gates help manage water levels during periods of high flow. Although its condition has not been explicitly rated, the pond's risk assessment indicates a very high level of risk, emphasizing the importance of continued monitoring and management to safeguard against potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, South Oaks Pond presents an intriguing case study in flood risk reduction infrastructure. Its strategic location, design features, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the role of small dams in enhancing community resilience to extreme weather events. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water availability, understanding the contributions of structures like South Oaks Pond becomes increasingly essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices for future generations.
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 South Oaks Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Haikey Creek At 101st St South At Tulsa | 0 cfs | → |
| Haikey Creek At 101st St South At Tulsa | 6 cfs | → |
| Joe Creek At 61st St At Tulsa | 4 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Tulsa | 15,400 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek At Tulsa | 1 cfs | → |
| Flat Rock Creek At Cincinnati Ave At Tulsa | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Oaks Pond.
Boat launches
- East 98th Street 6315, Tulsa
- Riverparks East Bank Trail Tulsa
- Bixhoma Lake Road Bixby
- Case Community Park
- Old State Highway 51 Sand Springs
- Catoosa
Track South Oaks Pond 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 South Oaks Pond
Where does the data for South Oaks Pond 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 South Oaks Pond.