Altus Dam
Altus Dam is a concrete dam located in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, built in 1944. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Altus Dam
The primary purpose of Altus Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the North Fork Red River near Blair.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 1,104 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 162,025 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,076 square miles. Completed in 1944, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/14/2020.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Kiowa |
| Nearest City | Blair |
| River/Stream | North Fork Red River |
| Coordinates | 34.88650, -99.29580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,104 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 162,025 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 162,025 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 134,495 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,076 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 57,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK02500 |
| Federal ID | OK02500 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |