Altus South Dike
Altus South Dike is an earth dam located in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, built in 1944. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Altus South Dike
The primary purpose of Altus South Dike is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Red River near Blair.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,260 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 168,120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,515 square miles. Completed in 1944, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/14/2020.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Kiowa |
| Nearest City | Blair |
| River/Stream | Red River |
| Coordinates | 34.88320, -99.29460 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 168,120 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 168,120 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 134,495 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,260 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,515 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 57,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK82905 |
| Federal ID | OK02500S005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |