Denison Dam dam
Denison Dam
Denison Dam, also known as Lake Texoma, is a vital Federal water resource infrastructure located in Bryan, Oklahoma, along the Red River. Completed in 1944, this Earth dam stands at a height of 165 feet and has a storage capacity of over 5 million acre-feet, serving purposes such as flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and water supply. With a spillway width of 2000 feet, the dam has a high hazard potential, necessitating risk management measures to safeguard downstream communities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) actively monitors and mitigates risks associated with Denison Dam through regular inspections, emergency response planning, and ongoing maintenance activities. A recent risk assessment classified the dam's overall risk as moderate, with potential failure scenarios including water seepage leading to erosion of foundation soils and extreme floods breaching the structure. Despite these risks, USACE is committed to implementing remedial measures and enhancing communication and evacuation plans to minimize the impact on communities downstream in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and beyond.
In addition to its critical role in flood protection and water management, Denison Dam serves as a key piece of infrastructure with significant economic and environmental implications for the region. With ongoing risk assessments and proactive risk management measures in place, the dam continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and resilience of surrounding communities in the face of potential water resource challenges and climate impacts.
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 Denison Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River At Denison Dam Nr Denison | 41 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Blue | 75 cfs | → |
| Range Ck Nr Collinsville | 0 cfs | → |
| Timber Ck Nr Collinsville | · | → |
| Red River Near Gainesville | 348 cfs | → |
| Bois D'Arc Ck At Fm 1396 Nr Honey Grove | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Denison Dam.
Track Denison 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 Denison Dam
Where does the data for Denison 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 Denison Dam.