Nickles dam
Nickles
Nickles is a private earth dam located in Bryan, Oklahoma, near Timber Hill Church. Built in 1975 by the USDA NRCS, the dam stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 13 feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a storage capacity of 87 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 368 cubic feet per second. The dam is regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and undergoes periodic inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Nickles poses a very high risk due to its age and lack of recent condition assessments. The dam features a controlled spillway and a single valve outlet gate for water release. While it has not been modified in recent years, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are unclear. With its stone core and soil foundation, Nickles serves as an important water resource for the area and requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure public safety.
In the event of an emergency, contact with relevant authorities may be necessary, although the specifics of the dam's emergency preparedness, including the existence of inundation maps and compliance with guidelines, remain uncertain. Nickles' location along the Cowpen Creek tributary adds to its significance as a recreational spot in the region. With its rich history dating back to the 1970s, Nickles continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, highlighting the importance of proper infrastructure management in safeguarding our natural resources.
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 Nickles -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Boggy Creek Near Caney | 423 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Blue | 634 cfs | → |
| Muddy Boggy Creek Near Farris | 2,430 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Connerville | 114 cfs | → |
| Muddy Boggy Creek Near Unger | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Red River At Denison Dam Nr Denison | 828 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nickles.
Track Nickles 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 Nickles
Where does the data for Nickles 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 Nickles.