Scs-upper Elk Creek Site-23c

About Scs-upper Elk Creek Site-23c

The primary purpose of Scs-upper Elk Creek Site-23c 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 Beckham Co Cons Dist (state). It impounds the Tr-elk Creek near Elk City.

The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,555 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,480 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. 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 07/05/2011. That was 14 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

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.

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