Chouteau Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 53 ft53 ft tall and 11,690 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Chouteau Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Chouteau Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the Verdigris River near Okay.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 11,690 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,270 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23,340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 240 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/04/2025.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Wagoner |
| Nearest City | Okay |
| River/Stream | Verdigris River |
| Coordinates | 35.85767, -95.37098 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 11,690 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23,340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23,340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23,340 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,270 acres |
| Drainage Area | 240 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 155,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK10303 |
| Federal ID | OK10303 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |