Tulsa dam
Tulsa
Tulsa, also known as Bird Creek Reservoir, is a vital water resource in Mayes County, Oklahoma. Owned by the local government, this dam was completed in 1978 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Standing at a height of 15 feet, Tulsa has a storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet and a surface area of 40 acres.
Managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Tulsa is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 2 feet and a valve outlet gate. While its hazard potential is rated as low, the risk assessment for Tulsa indicates a very high level of risk, emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance and emergency preparedness.
Located within the Tulsa District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding. With its earth dam structure and stone core type, this reservoir serves as a key component in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
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 Tulsa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neosho River Near Langley | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Eucha | 355 cfs | → |
| Neosho River Near Chouteau | 655 cfs | → |
| Big Cabin Creek Near Big Cabin | 252 cfs | → |
| Beaty Creek Near Jay | 22 cfs | → |
| Spavinaw Creek Near Colcord | 108 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tulsa.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Spavinaw State Park
- Cherokee State Park
- Snowdale State Park
- Chouteau Bend - Fort Gibson Lake
- Bernice State Park
- Honey Creek State Park
Fishing spots
Track Tulsa 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 Tulsa
Where does the data for Tulsa 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 Tulsa.