Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15 dam
Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15
SCS-Cottonwood Creek Site-15, located in Cashion, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed in 1967 by the NRCS. The dam, standing at a height of 55 feet, serves primarily for flood risk reduction along Cottonwood Creek, with a capacity of 4253 acre-feet of storage and a normal storage level of 625 acre-feet. The dam's spillway, which is controlled and 2 feet wide, can handle a maximum discharge of 6640 cubic feet per second.
Despite being rated as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as fair as of August 2011. Its inspection frequency is once every year, with the last inspection conducted in September 2010. The risk assessment for SCS-Cottonwood Creek Site-15 indicates a very high risk level, with a DSAC assigned date and a risk management measures status not specified. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and its adherence to guidelines, as well as the preparation of inundation maps and update of emergency contacts, are also not provided in the available data. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of infrastructure management, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness in the context of water resource management.
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 Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Canadian River Near Yukon | 88 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Seward | 781 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Dover | 52 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near El Reno | 12 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Blw Lk Overholser Nr Okc | 9 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Calumet | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15.
Track Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15 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 Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15
Where does the data for Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15 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 Scs-Cottonwood Creek Site-15.