Pawhuska Lake Dam
Pawhuska Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Osage County, Oklahoma, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pawhuska Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pawhuska Lake Dam 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 City Of Pawhuska (local government). It impounds the Tributary Clear Creek near Pawhuska.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 96 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,460 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 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 12/13/2022.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Osage |
| Nearest City | Pawhuska |
| River/Stream | Tributary Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.64459, -96.39522 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,460 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,460 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 96 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF PAWHUSKA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK11044 |
| Federal ID | OK11044 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |