Lightning Creek Holding Pond C dam
Lightning Creek Holding Pond C
Lightning Creek Holding Pond C is a vital water resource infrastructure located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, designed by RGDC to mitigate flood risk along the tributary to Lightning Creek. This earth dam, standing at a height of 16 feet and spanning 4000 feet in length, was completed in 1977 and has a storage capacity of 187 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
With a hazard potential rated as high and a condition assessment deemed fair as of the last inspection in October 2021, Lightning Creek Holding Pond C remains a critical structure for managing water flow in the region. The dam's spillway type is controlled with a width of 4 feet, and it features a valve outlet gate for water release. Despite its fair condition, the risk assessment for this dam is very high (1), highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood control.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lightning Creek Holding Pond C represents a key component of the infrastructure that helps protect Oklahoma City from the impacts of flooding. With its significant storage capacity and strategic location along a tributary to Lightning Creek, this earth dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and reducing the risk of flood damage in the area. As the dam continues to be regulated, inspected, and maintained by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, efforts to enhance its condition and implement risk management measures will be essential to safeguarding the community from potential hazards.
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 Lightning Creek Holding Pond C -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Canadian River Blw Lk Overholser Nr Okc | 9 cfs | → |
| Canadian River At Norman | 116 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Yukon | 88 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River At Britton Rd At Okc | 346 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Harrah | 150 cfs | → |
| Little River Blw Lk Thunderbird Nr Norman | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lightning Creek Holding Pond C.
Boat launches
- Oklahoma River Trail - South Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma River Trail - North Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Greenway Trail Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma City
- Lake Draper Trail Oklahoma City
Track Lightning Creek Holding Pond C 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 Lightning Creek Holding Pond C
Where does the data for Lightning Creek Holding Pond C 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 Lightning Creek Holding Pond C.