Overholser
Overholser is an earth dam located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Overholser
The primary purpose of Overholser 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 Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (local government). It impounds the N. Canadian River near Oklahoma City.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 17,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 738 square miles. Completed in 1919, the structure is over a century 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 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 10/06/2022.
At 61 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 | Oklahoma |
| Nearest City | Oklahoma City |
| River/Stream | N. Canadian River |
| Coordinates | 35.48602, -97.66657 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 17,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 738 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 193,013 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | OKLAHOMA CITY WATER UTILITIES TRUST |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK02537 |
| Federal ID | OK02537 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |