Lake Waxhoma dam patch installed in 2021 fails; Barnsdall mayor warns of flooding

A temporary patch made to the Lake Waxhoma dam in Osage County has failed, sending water pouring over a damaged section of the spillway and raising concerns about downstream flooding.

VIDEO: Lake Waxhoma Dam patch fails, Osage SkyNews 6 surveys the flooding

Osage SkyNews 6 captured live aerial footage Wednesday afternoon showing water flowing from the base of the dam, where a patch had been installed after a previous failure in May 2021. Crews had used rocks to stabilize the area at the time, but a permanent repair has not yet been made.

“What we’re seeing here is that water, instead of going over the spillway on top of that concrete, is going down behind it,” said News On 6’s Dustin Stone.

“The water is actually coming out from underneath at the very bottom of the spillway, instead of running down.”

The area is just east of Barnsdall and north of Highway 11. While rural, officials are concerned about how the flow could affect downstream communities. The mayor confirmed the patch has failed and emergency crews, including the Osage County Sheriff's Office, are monitoring the situation.

AVANT Public Schools announced early dismissal for students and said it may cancel classes Wednesday.

Several roads in the area, including those near the lake, are closed. “The usual places along Highway 20, Highway 11 — those are several places that are underwater,” Stone said.

Pilot Dustin Stone also reported widespread flooding on highways throughout Osage County:

“We did see several vehicles trying to make their way through those covered roads… just turn around, don’t drown.”



Officials say the dam failure could also impact local infrastructure, as the lake is a key water source for Barnsdall. Federal funding had previously been sought for a permanent fix, but that project has not been completed.

News On 6 has a crew on the ground and will continue to update this developing story.

Previous Story: Barnsdall Mayor: Breach At Lake Waxhoma Dam Fixed Temporarily, Situation Under Control

Barnsdall Mayor Johnny Kelley said at the time that the situation was under control and that crews would continue to monitor the fix.

Back then, crews worked overnight to fill the 15-foot hole with tons of rocks to slow the leak. They built a road on top of the dam so they could reach the hole to fill it as a temporary solution.

Kelley said a permanent fix is going to take time and a lot of money.