Upper Canyon
Upper Canyon is a stone dam located in Comanche County, Oklahoma, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Canyon
The primary purpose of Upper Canyon is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Sill (federal). It impounds the Crater Creek near Cache.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 165 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 49 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1905, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2019.
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 | Comanche |
| Nearest City | Cache |
| River/Stream | Crater Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.67754, -98.62803 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 165 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Sill |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK20507 |
| Federal ID | OK20507 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |