Brown Lake
Brown Lake is an earth dam located in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Brown Lake
The primary purpose of Brown 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 Mcalester Aap (federal). It impounds the Bull Creek near Frink-chambers.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,565 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 548 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,620 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 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 10/26/2021.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Pittsburg |
| Nearest City | Frink-chambers |
| River/Stream | Bull Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.83650, -95.85850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,565 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,620 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,620 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,525 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 548 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Mcalester Aap |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK20511 |
| Federal ID | OK20511 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |