Garms Bill dam
Garms Bill
Garms Bill, located in Piedmont, Oklahoma, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1979 by the USDA NRCS for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Deer Creek. Standing at a height of 24 feet with a length of 294 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1600 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with a very high risk assessment, the dam has not been rated for its condition and last underwent inspection in August 2010.
Managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and regulated at the state level, Garms Bill has state jurisdiction and permitting for operations and inspections. Although the dam has a controlled spillway and one outlet valve, it lacks an emergency action plan and updated inundation maps. The dam's designer, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, plays a crucial role in ensuring the structure's integrity for flood risk reduction in the surrounding area, which includes Canadian County, Oklahoma.
While Garms Bill has not been modified in recent years and operates under the supervision of the USDA NRCS, its risk management measures and emergency preparedness are areas that may require attention to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of downstream communities in the event of a catastrophic failure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and advocate for the proper maintenance and oversight of structures like Garms Bill to safeguard against the impacts of extreme weather events and changing hydrological conditions in the region.
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 Garms Bill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Canadian River Near Yukon | 18 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near El Reno | 10 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Blw Lk Overholser Nr Okc | 5 cfs | → |
| North Canadian River Near Calumet | 7 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Seward | 62 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Dover | 178 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garms Bill.
Track Garms Bill 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 Garms Bill
Where does the data for Garms Bill 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 Low 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 Garms Bill.