Willow Creek Dam dam
Willow Creek Dam
Willow Creek Dam, located in Liberty, Oklahoma, is a private-owned structure with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam, constructed by Butch Floyd Construction Company, stands at a height of 41 feet and has a hydraulic height of 30 feet. With a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and a surface area of 11 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. It is regulated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
The dam features a controlled spillway type with a width of 1 foot and an outlet gate consisting of a single valve. Although it has a low hazard potential, the risk assessment categorizes Willow Creek Dam as having a very high risk level. Despite not being rated for its current condition, the dam's inspection frequency is set at 5 years, with the last inspection conducted in December 2010. The surrounding area of Sequoyah County, Oklahoma benefits from the dam's ability to support fish and wildlife habitats while also contributing to the overall water management system of the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Willow Creek Dam serves as a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and its role in environmental conservation. With its focus on supporting fish and wildlife populations, the dam exemplifies the intersection of human infrastructure and ecological preservation. By understanding the design, purpose, and regulatory oversight of structures like Willow Creek Dam, enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the complex dynamics of water management in a changing climate.
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 Willow Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Creek Near Short | 89 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Ft. Smith | 232 cfs | → |
| Lee Creek At Short | 77 cfs | → |
| Little Lee Creek Near Short | 10 cfs | → |
| James Fork Near Hackett | 17 cfs | → |
| Poteau River Near Panama | 259 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- North Water Street 2885, Van Buren
- Ok 9a Arkoma
- Fort Coffee
- Old Harbor Road 10766, Fort Smith
- Brown Quail Trace Barling
Campgrounds
- Lee Creek Public Use Area
- Fort Chaffee Rv Military
- Fort Smith Alma Rv Park
- Brushy Lake State Park
- Short Mountain Cove - Kerr Reservoir
- Applegate Cove - Kerr Reservoir
Fishing spots
Track Willow Creek Dam 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 Willow Creek Dam
Where does the data for Willow Creek Dam 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 Willow Creek Dam.