John Wells Lake dam
John Wells Lake
John Wells Lake in Haskell, Oklahoma is a local government-owned reservoir primarily used for water supply purposes. Built in 1936, this Earth dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1250 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 1452 acre-feet. The lake covers 194 acres and is regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, with inspection and enforcement protocols in place to ensure its safety and functionality.
Located on TR-SANS BOIS CR and managed by the Tulsa District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, John Wells Lake has a controlled spillway and a low hazard potential. Although its condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," the risk assessment for this dam is considered very high, highlighting the importance of proper risk management measures. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1240 cubic feet per second and one outlet valve, John Wells Lake plays a crucial role in water resource management for the surrounding area, making it a key asset for water supply and climate enthusiasts to monitor and appreciate.
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 John Wells Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian River Near Whitefield | 357 cfs | → |
| Fourche Maline Near Red Oak | 7 cfs | → |
| Illinois River Near Gore | 46 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 246 cfs | → |
| Little Lee Creek Near Short | 13 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 4,840 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Wells Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- John Wells Park
- Dam Site South - Eufaula Lake
- Cowlington Point - Kerr Reservoir
- Brooken Cove - Eufaula Lake
- Applegate Cove - Kerr Reservoir
- Short Mountain Cove - Kerr Reservoir
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track John Wells Lake 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 John Wells Lake
Where does the data for John Wells Lake 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 John Wells Lake.