Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 dam
Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33
SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33, located in Garfield, Oklahoma, is a state-regulated dam designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1990, this earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and has a storage capacity of 6500 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Black Bear River, serves to protect the surrounding area from potential flood events with a maximum discharge capacity of 13100 cubic feet per second.
Despite being in fair condition according to the last inspection in 2011, SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 is classified as having a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. The dam features a controlled spillway and a single valve outlet gate. Managed by the OWRB, this dam is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a drainage area of 16.5 square miles, the dam covers a surface area of 116 acres and plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region.
This site, part of the Tulsa District under the design responsibility of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, represents a vital piece of infrastructure for flood control in the area. Its strategic location on the Black Bear River and its capacity for substantial discharge highlight its importance in safeguarding local communities from potential flood events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and monitoring the condition and functionality of dams like SCS-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 is crucial for ensuring the resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing hydrological risks.
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-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Creek At Enid | 3 cfs | → |
| Skeleton Creek Near Lovell | 62 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 73 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Dover | 187 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Guthrie | 403 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia River Near Blackwell | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33.
Track Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 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-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33
Where does the data for Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33 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 Scs-Upper Black Bear Creek Site-33.