Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 dam
Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39
SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 is a state-regulated dam located in Garfield, Oklahoma, with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a length of 1800 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1884 acre-feet. The dam is equipped with a controlled spillway and a valve outlet gate for water management.
Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam at SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact on downstream areas. The condition of the dam is currently not rated, with the last inspection conducted in 1980. While the dam meets state regulatory standards for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there is a need for updated emergency action plans and risk assessment to ensure public safety in case of a dam failure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 serves as a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and risk management. With its unique design and historical significance, this dam highlights the importance of regular inspections, emergency preparedness, and risk mitigation strategies in safeguarding communities and the environment from potential water-related disasters.
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-39 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Creek At Enid | 3 cfs | → |
| Skeleton Creek Near Lovell | 62 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 73 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Guthrie | 403 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Dover | 187 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia River Near Blackwell | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39.
Campgrounds
Track Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 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-39
Where does the data for Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39 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 Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-39.