Old Spiro dam
Old Spiro
Old Spiro is a local government-owned dam located in Spiro, Oklahoma, along the TR-Poteau River. Completed in 1950, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a hydraulic height of 14 feet. The primary purpose of Old Spiro is water supply, with a normal storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 210 acre-feet.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Old Spiro is considered to have a very high risk due to its age and condition assessment being listed as "Not Rated." The dam features a controlled spillway and a single valve outlet gate. While it has not undergone recent inspection or assessment updates, Old Spiro remains an essential structure for water resource management in the region. Given its critical role in water supply, continued monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensure the safety and efficiency of this aging 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 Old Spiro -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poteau River Near Panama | 186 cfs | → |
| James Fork Near Hackett | 15 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek Near Short | 78 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek At Short | 73 cfs | → |
| Little Lee Creek Near Short | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old Spiro.
Boat launches
- Fort Coffee
- Cowlington
- Ok 9a Arkoma
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
Campgrounds
- Short Mountain Cove - Kerr Reservoir
- Cowlington Point - Kerr Reservoir
- Applegate Cove - Kerr Reservoir
- Fort Chaffee Rv Military
- Lee Creek Public Use Area
- Quarry Island - Lake Wister State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters In Sec 8, T1s, R31w To Nf Boundary At Acorn, Ar
- The State Line To The Mouth Of The River Outh Of The River
- Tahlequah Water Supply Plant To Horseshoe Bend
More reservoirs
Track Old Spiro 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 Old Spiro
Where does the data for Old Spiro 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 Old Spiro.