Orchard dam
Orchard
Orchard is a privately-owned irrigation dam located in Adair, Oklahoma, along the TR-Evansville Creek. Built in 1970, this Earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 2830 feet, providing a storage capacity of 695 acre-feet and a surface area of 24 acres for water resource management. With a primary purpose of irrigation, Orchard plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the area.
Despite its importance, Orchard has been assessed to have a poor condition and a high hazard potential, warranting attention and potential rehabilitation to ensure its continued functionality and safety. The dam, regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to uphold safety standards and mitigate risks associated with its operation. With a maximum discharge capacity of 3120 cubic feet per second and a controlled spillway, Orchard presents both opportunities and challenges for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Orchard represents a significant infrastructure for water management in the region, demonstrating the intersection of human engineering with natural resources. Its location within the Little Rock District and its association with the TR-Evansville Creek highlight the interconnectedness of water systems and the importance of efficient irrigation practices in sustaining agricultural activities. As efforts are made to address the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential, stakeholders can work towards ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainability of Orchard for future generations.
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 Orchard -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Baron Fork At Dutch Mills | 12 cfs | → |
| Caney Creek Near Barber | 25 cfs | → |
| Baron Fork At Eldon | 93 cfs | → |
| Little Lee Creek Near Short | 13 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek At Short | 99 cfs | → |
| Illinois River Near Tahlequah | 599 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orchard.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Adair State Park
- Carters Landing - Tenkiller Ferry Lake
- Elk Creek Landing - Tenkiller Ferry Lake
- Cherokee Landing State Park
- Standing Rock - Tenkiller Ferry Lake
- Devils Den State Park
Fishing spots
Track Orchard 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 Orchard
Where does the data for Orchard 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 Orchard.