Sooner dam
Sooner
Sooner is a significant Earth dam located in Ralston, Oklahoma, along the Greasy Creek. Constructed in 1972 by OG&E, this dam serves as a crucial water resource for the area, with a storage capacity of 350,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 5,400 acres. The dam stands at a height of 100 feet, with a controlled spillway width of 4 feet, and has a maximum discharge capacity of 4,000 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Sooner is classified as having a significant hazard potential, yet its condition assessment remains satisfactory. The dam undergoes inspections every three years, with the most recent inspection conducted in October 2021. Despite its very high risk assessment rating, the dam is equipped with a valve outlet gate and meets regulatory guidelines for emergency action preparedness. Positioned within the Tulsa District, Sooner plays a vital role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sooner represents a crucial infrastructure asset in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, with its primary purpose serving as a key component of the local water supply system. With its strategic location along Greasy Creek and state-regulated status, Sooner stands as a testament to effective water management practices. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the monitoring and maintenance of dams like Sooner are essential in ensuring the safety and security of communities relying on these critical structures for their water needs.
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 Sooner -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bear Creek At Pawnee | 305 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ralston | 1,620 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 73 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia River Near Blackwell | 140 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Ripley | 365 cfs | → |
| Hominy Creek Near Hominy | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sooner.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Sooner 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 Sooner
Where does the data for Sooner 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 Significant 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 Sooner.