Birch Dam
Birch Dam is an earth dam located in Osage County, Oklahoma, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Birch Dam
The primary purpose of Birch Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the Birch Creek near Avant.
The dam stands 97 feet tall and stretches 3,193 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,145 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 111,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 66 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/14/2025.
At 97 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Avant |
| River/Stream | Birch Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.53147, -96.16060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 97 ft |
| Dam Height | 97 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,193 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 111,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 111,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19,225 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,145 acres |
| Drainage Area | 66 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 37,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK20508 |
| Federal ID | OK20508 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |