Northwood Lake Dam
Northwood Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Canadian County, Oklahoma, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Northwood Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Northwood Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Northwood Lake Hoa (private). It impounds the Deer Creek near Piedmont.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 2,665 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 190 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/21/2022.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Canadian |
| Nearest City | Piedmont |
| River/Stream | Deer Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.62471, -97.76009 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,665 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 190 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NORTHWOOD LAKE HOA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK10709 |
| Federal ID | OK10709 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |