Lake Carl Blackwell
Lake Carl Blackwell is an earth dam located in Payne County, Oklahoma, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Carl Blackwell
The primary purpose of Lake Carl Blackwell is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Oklahoma State University (state). It impounds the Stillwater Creek near Stillwater.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 4,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,370 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 119,040 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 75 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/27/2022.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Oklahoma dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Payne |
| Nearest City | Stillwater |
| River/Stream | Stillwater Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.13015, -97.19183 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 119,040 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 119,040 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 61,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,370 acres |
| Drainage Area | 75 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 72,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK01388 |
| Federal ID | OK01388 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |