Wister Dam dam
Wister Dam
Wister Dam, also known as Wister Lake, is a vital federal infrastructure located in Le Flore County, Oklahoma. Completed in 1949 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this earth dam stands at 99 feet tall and stretches 5700 feet long, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 51,589 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 427,481 acre-feet. The dam primarily serves the purpose of flood risk reduction for the Poteau River watershed, but also supports water supply and other functions.
Despite being classified as a high hazard potential dam, Wister Dam has undergone a recent risk assessment by USACE, which deemed the risk level as moderate. The main concern lies in water seepage along the earthen embankment, potentially leading to erosion and breach. In the event of a failure, catastrophic flooding downstream would impact areas such as Wister, Poteau, and neighboring counties in both Oklahoma and Arkansas. To manage and reduce this risk, USACE is implementing various measures including a Dam Safety Modification Study, emergency exercises, EAP updates, and regular inspections with a focus on maintaining the dam's integrity and enhancing emergency response capabilities.
Overall, Wister Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water resource management for the region. With proactive risk management measures in place, including ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts, the dam continues to safeguard communities and support sustainable water management practices in the face of potential natural disasters and climate challenges.
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 Wister Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poteau River At Loving | 52 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 246 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Below Big Creek Nr Page | 206 cfs | → |
| Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar | 215 cfs | → |
| James Fork Near Hackett | 60 cfs | → |
| Poteau River At Cauthron | 285 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wister Dam.
Campgrounds
- Below The Dam - Lake Wister State Park
- Quarry Island - Lake Wister State Park
- Wards Landing - Lake Wister State Park
- Victor Area - Lake Wister State Park
- Cedar Lake Recreation Area
- Winding Stair Campground
Fishing spots
Track Wister Dam 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 Wister Dam
Where does the data for Wister Dam 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 High 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 Wister Dam.