Waurika Dam
Waurika Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Waurika Dam
The primary purpose of Waurika 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 Beaver Creek near Waurika.
The dam stands 106 feet tall and stretches 16,637 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 935,480 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 562 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/09/2021.
At 106 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Waurika |
| River/Stream | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.23572, -98.05367 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Length | 16,637 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 935,480 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 935,480 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 190,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 562 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK22203 |
| Federal ID | OK22203 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |