Okmulgee Lake
Okmulgee Lake is an earth dam located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Okmulgee Lake
The primary purpose of Okmulgee Lake 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 Okmulgee (local government). It impounds the Salt Creek near Schulter.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 2,080 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 668 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 38 square miles. Completed in 1928, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/18/2022.
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 | Okmulgee |
| Nearest City | Schulter |
| River/Stream | Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.62180, -96.06154 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,080 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,170 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 668 acres |
| Drainage Area | 38 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 73,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF OKMULGEE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK01362 |
| Federal ID | OK01362 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |