Shell Creek Lake Dam
Shell Creek Lake Dam is a buttress dam located in Osage County, Oklahoma, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Shell Creek Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Shell Creek Lake Dam 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 Sand Springs (local government). It impounds the Shell Creek near Sand Springs.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 757 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 573 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 11/22/2022.
At 65 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 | Osage |
| Nearest City | Sand Springs |
| River/Stream | Shell Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.18079, -96.18102 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 757 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 573 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF SAND SPRINGS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK11015 |
| Federal ID | OK11015 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |