Crooked Branch dam
Crooked Branch
Crooked Branch, also known as Crooked Branch Lake, is a federal-owned recreational dam located in Le Flore, Oklahoma. Completed in 1988, this gravity dam stands at 25 feet tall and spans 440 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 167 acre-feet. The dam serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.
Managed by the Tulsa District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Crooked Branch features a controlled spillway with a width of 1 foot and a valve outlet gate for water release. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with a very high risk assessment rating, the condition of the dam is currently listed as "Not Rated." Regular inspections are conducted to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for its recreational users.
With its scenic location and diverse recreational opportunities, Crooked Branch remains a beloved destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in Oklahoma. As a vital part of the local ecosystem, this dam provides not only recreational enjoyment but also serves as a crucial water management structure for 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 Crooked Branch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar | 111 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 106 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Loving | 147 cfs | → |
| Mountain Fork At Smithville | 743 cfs | → |
| Fourche Maline Near Red Oak | 571 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 599 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crooked Branch.
Campgrounds
- Cedar Lake Recreation Area
- Winding Stair
- Winding Stair Campground
- Billy Creek Recreation Area
- Billy Creek
- Hale Scout Reservation
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- State Highway 4 To Broken Bow Lake
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- Confluence Of East And West Forks, Sec 7, T3s, R23e To Nf Boundary Sec 32, T4s, R23e
- Nf Boundary At Pine Ridge, Ar To Highway 298 Bridge Near Sims, Ar
- Sec 30, T3s, R27w To Sec 19, T4s, R24w
Track Crooked Branch 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 Crooked Branch
Where does the data for Crooked Branch 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 Crooked Branch.