Scs-sallisaw Creek Site-27

About Scs-sallisaw Creek Site-27

The primary purpose of Scs-sallisaw Creek Site-27 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 Sequoyah Co Cons Dist (state). It impounds the Smith Hollow near Marble City.

The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,005 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/01/1980. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 70 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.