This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Perry Dam | |
|---|---|
| Name | Perry Dam |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Rogers County, Oklahoma, Tulsa County, Oklahoma |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1958 |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Owner | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam type | Earthfill |
| Dam height | 110 ft |
| Dam length | 9,200 ft |
| Reservoir | Oologah Lake |
| Reservoir capacity total | 192,000 acre-feet |
| Plant capacity | None |
Perry Dam is a major flood control and water-resource structure on the Caney River in northeastern Oklahoma, constructed and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Located near the city of Perry, Oklahoma and downstream of Ponca City, Oklahoma, it forms a multipurpose reservoir that supports regional flood control, water supply, recreation, wildlife habitat, and navigation interests. The project sits within a landscape shaped by the Arkansas River basin and integrates with federal, state, and local agencies for operations.
Perry Dam is part of a network of Corps projects including Webbers Falls Lock and Dam, Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam, Tenkiller Ferry Lake, and Fort Gibson Lake, designed under mid-20th-century water-resources policy responding to flood events such as the Great Flood of 1927 and legislative frameworks like the Flood Control Act of 1936 and the Water Resources Development Act of 1974. Its placement on the Caney River connects it hydrologically to the Grand River (Oklahoma) system and the larger Mississippi River watershed. The dam supports local municipalities such as Perry, Oklahoma, Newkirk, Oklahoma, and Blackwell, Oklahoma through flood mitigation and reservoir storage.
Authorization for the dam followed regional advocacy by state representatives including figures from Oklahoma Senate delegations and federal stakeholders like the U.S. Congress committee on Rivers and Harbors. Site surveys involved engineers from the USACE Tulsa District and hydrologists referencing data from the United States Geological Survey streamgaging network and historical flood records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Construction began in the late 1950s under contracts awarded to private firms and oversight by the Corps, employing techniques similar to those used at contemporaneous projects such as Kaw Lake and Eufaula Lake. Completion occurred around 1960, with dedication ceremonies attended by state officials from the Oklahoma Governor's Office and representatives from the Department of the Army.
The dam is an earthfill embankment featuring a compacted-soil core and rock-shell shoulders, with design standards influenced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Manual criteria and geotechnical studies from the Oklahoma Geological Survey. Key specifications include a crest length of several thousand feet and a maximum structural height in excess of 100 feet above streambed, equipped with spillway works and gated outlet works compatible with Corps hydraulic modeling practices. Appurtenant structures incorporate instrumentation conforming to USACE Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory monitoring protocols and emergency action plans coordinated with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Design reviews referenced flood-frequency analyses that used methodologies from the Hydrologic Engineering Center.
The reservoir impounds flows from the Caney River and tributaries, establishing a storage pool that attenuates peak discharges, regulates low flows, and provides seasonal water conservation. Reservoir operations are informed by data from the National Weather Service, real-time telemetry tied to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, and inflow forecasting models employed by the Tulsa District. Perry Dam contributes to regional surface-water allocations affecting municipal suppliers such as City of Perry, Oklahoma utilities and agricultural irrigators in Kay County, Oklahoma and surrounding areas. The impoundment also interacts with groundwater systems studied by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Daily operations, maintenance, and emergency response are managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District in coordination with state partners including the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and local counties. Routine activities encompass dam inspections, sediment management, and recreational facility upkeep, guided by federal directives like the National Dam Safety Program. Interagency coordination involves entities such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for habitat considerations and the Bureau of Reclamation for regional water policy alignment. Long-term asset management leverages Corps programs addressing aging infrastructure, risk-informed decision-making, and capital improvement planning.
Construction and operation affected ecosystems including riparian corridors, wetlands, and species associated with the Caney River, prompting involvement by conservation organizations and regulatory review under statutes administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and state counterparts. Impacts on fish and wildlife were assessed with reference to species lists maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and mitigation measures incorporated habitat enhancement and shoreline management. Social impacts included displacement of some rural properties and alterations to land use patterns, engagement with stakeholders from local municipalities such as Perry, Oklahoma and Rogers County, Oklahoma counties, and cultural-resource consultations involving the Oklahoma Historical Society and federally recognized tribes with historic ties to the area.
The reservoir and surrounding lands provide boating, fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities promoted by the Corps and local tourism agencies like TravelOK and county visitor bureaus. Common recreational pursuits include angling for species monitored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and water-based events coordinated with municipal parks departments. Nearby attractions and infrastructure connect visitors to regional cultural sites such as the Perry Courthouse Square Historic District, outdoor recreation nodes like Chandler Park, and transportation links via U.S. Route 77 and Interstate 35, supporting local economies through tourism and outdoor recreation services.
Category:Dams in Oklahoma Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams