Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-33 dam
Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-33
SCS-Cottonwood Creek Site-33, located in Piedmont, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated Earth dam built in 1965 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of Flood Risk Reduction. The dam stands at a height of 34 feet, with a length of 2050 feet, and has a storage capacity of 838 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-DEER CREEK, under the jurisdiction of the OWRB, and falls under the Tulsa District of the USACE.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the Risk Assessment for SCS-Cottonwood Creek Site-33 indicates a very high risk level (1). The dam is equipped with a controlled spillway and a single valve outlet gate. Although the condition assessment is marked as Not Rated, the dam has not been modified in recent years and was last inspected in 1994 with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. The emergency action plan (EAP) status and readiness for this site are currently unspecified.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by the unique characteristics and risk profile of SCS-Cottonwood Creek Site-33. With its significant storage capacity and flood risk reduction purpose, the dam serves a vital role in managing water resources in the Canadian County area. The discrepancy between the hazard potential and risk assessment highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this critical infrastructure.
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-Cottonwood Creek Site-33 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Canadian River Near Yukon | 16 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Blw Lk Overholser Nr Okc | 5 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near El Reno | 9 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Seward | 53 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River At Britton Rd At Okc | 55 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Calumet | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-33.
Track Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-33 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-Cottonwood Creek Site-33
Where does the data for Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-33 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-Cottonwood Creek Site-33.