Canton Dam
Canton Dam is a gravity dam located in Blaine County, Oklahoma, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Canton Dam
The primary purpose of Canton 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 Usace - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the North Canadian River near Canton.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 15,140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,910 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 383,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,600 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 11/04/2020.
At 68 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 | Blaine |
| Nearest City | Canton |
| River/Stream | North Canadian River |
| Coordinates | 36.08851, -98.59141 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 383,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 383,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 111,310 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,910 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,600 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 339,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK10316 |
| Federal ID | OK10316 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |