Ponca Lake
Ponca Lake is an earth dam located in Kay County, Oklahoma, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ponca Lake
The primary purpose of Ponca 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 Ponca City (local government). It impounds the Turkey Creek near Ponca City.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 5,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,159 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/14/2022.
At 67 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 | Kay |
| Nearest City | Ponca City |
| River/Stream | Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.72077, -97.02642 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,440 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,159 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 29,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF PONCA CITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK11017 |
| Federal ID | OK11017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |