Altus Reservoir 

2007 Sedimentation Survey 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Technical Service Center 

Denver, Colorado April 2008 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Technical Service Center 

Water and Environmental Resources Division 

Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group 

Denver, Colorado April 2008 

Altus Reservoir 

2007 Sedimentation Survey 

prepared by 

Ronald L. Ferrari 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) Sedimentation and River Hydraulics 

(Sedimentation) Group of the Technical Service Center (TSC) prepared and published 

this report. Ronald Ferrari of the Sedimentation Group and Marcio White of the 

Reclamation’s Oklahoma Area Office of the Great Plains Region conducted the 

bathymetry survey of the reservoir in June of 2007. In November 2006 and February 

2008, staff under the direction of Mr. Tom Buchanan of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation 

District worked with Reclamation staff in conducting the land surveys of the reservoir. 

Ron Ferrari completed the data processing to generate the new topographic map and areacapacity tables. Kent Collins of the Sedimentation Group performed the technical peer 

review of this documentation. 

Mission Statements 

The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and 

provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and 

honor our trust responsibilities to Indian Tribes and our 

commitments to island communities. 

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, 

and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and 

economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. 

Reclamation Report 

This report was produced by the Bureau of Reclamation’s Sedimentation and 

River Hydraulics Group (Mail Code 86-68240), PO Box 25007, Denver, 

Colorado 80225-0007, www.usbr.gov/pmts/sediment/.

Disclaimer 

No warranty is expressed or implied regarding the usefulness or completeness of 

the information contained in this report. References to commercial products do 

not imply endorsement by the Bureau of Reclamation and may not be used for 

advertising or promotional purposes.
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1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 

 April 2008 

2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From – To) 

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 

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4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 

Altus Reservoir 

2007 Sedimentation Survey 

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 

5d. PROJECT NUMBER 

5e. TASK NUMBER 

6. AUTHOR(S) 

Ronald L. Ferrari 

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 

Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center, Denver, CO 80225 

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT 

NUMBER 

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) 

Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, PO Box 25007 

Denver, CO 80225-0007 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT 

NUMBER(S) 

12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 

14. ABSTRACT 

Reclamation surveyed Altus Reservoir in November 2006, June 2007, and February 2008 to develop updated reservoir 

topography and compute the present storage-elevation relationship (area-capacity tables). The underwater survey conducted 

between water surface elevations 1,559.2 and 1,559.5 (feet), used sonic depth recording equipment interfaced with a real-time 

kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) that provided continuous sounding positions throughout the underwater 

portion of the reservoir covered by the survey vessel. The above-water topography was obtained by digitizing reservoir contour

lines from the U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle (USGS quad) maps of the reservoir area and adjusting them with the limited 

RTK GPS land survey points collected in November 2006 and February 2008. The RTK GPS and USGS quad contour data 

were also used to develop contours where boat access was not possible due to thick vegetation and shallow water conditions. 

This study assumed no change since the 1967 survey at elevation 1,565.0 and above. The surface areas and resulting capacity 

data from elevation 1,559.0 to 1,565.0 were computed by linear interpolation. Accurate mapping of the upper reservoir contours

would require aerial data collection when the vegetation foliage was minimal and during low reservoir conditions. 

As of June 2007, at elevation 1,559.0, the surface area was 6,273 acres with a total capacity of 128,919 acre-feet. Since the 

December 1940 dam closure, about 27,749 acre-feet of change has occurred (417 acre-feet per year average) below elevation 

1,559.0 due to sediment deposition, resulting in a 17.7 percent loss in reservoir volume. 

15. SUBJECT TERMS 

reservoir area and capacity/ sedimentation/ reservoir surveys/ global positioning system/ sounders/ contour 

area/ RTK GPS 

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON 

a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT a. THIS PAGE 

17. LIMITATION 

OF ABSTRACT

18. NUMBER 

OF PAGES 

19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code)

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98) 

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18 
Table of Contents 

Page 

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1

Summary and Conclusions............................................................................................................... 5 

Control Survey Data Information..................................................................................................... 7 

Reservoir Operations........................................................................................................................ 8 

Hydrographic Survey Equipment and Method................................................................................. 9 

Reservoir Area and Capacity.......................................................................................................... 15 

Topography Development....................................................................................................... 15

Lateral Distribution ................................................................................................................. 19 

Longitudinal Distribution........................................................................................................ 28 

Development of the 2007 Altus Reservoir Surface Areas....................................................... 31 

2007 Storage Capacity ............................................................................................................ 38 

2007 Reservoir Sediment Analyses................................................................................................ 41 

References ...................................................................................................................................... 44 

Index of Figures 

Page 

 

Figure 1 - Reclamation Reservoirs Located in Oklahoma................................................................ 1 

Figure 2 - Downstream Face of Altus Dam...................................................................................... 2 

Figure 3 - USGS Quad of Altus Reservoir....................................................................................... 4

Figure 4 - Reservoir Sediment Delta Formation............................................................................... 5 

Figure 5 - Temporary Point Set on East Dike, November 2006....................................................... 7 

Figure 6 - Survey Vessel with Mounted Instrumentation on Jackson Lake in Wyoming. ............... 9 

Figure 7 - Altus Reservoir 2006/2007/2008 Survey Data Points. .................................................. 11 

Figure 8 - RTK GPS instruments mounted on all terrain vehicles in upper reservoir area. Far 

vehicle is parked near the reservoir water's edge.................................................................. 13 

Figure 9 - View from Granite Bridge looking upstream. Shows the thick vegetation that has 

established on the sediment deposition, preventing access for GPS measurements. ............ 14 

Figure 10 - Altus Reservoir Topographic Map. ............................................................................. 17 

Figure 11 - Range Line 1................................................................................................................ 20 

Figure 12 - Range Line 2................................................................................................................ 20 

Figure 13 - Range Line 2A............................................................................................................. 21 

Figure 14 - Range Line 3................................................................................................................ 21 

Figure 15 - Range Line 4................................................................................................................ 22 

Figure 16 - Range Line 5................................................................................................................ 22 

Figure 17 - Range Line 6................................................................................................................ 23 

Figure 18 - Range Line 6A............................................................................................................. 23 

Figure 19 - Range Line 7................................................................................................................ 24 

Figure 20 - Range Line 8................................................................................................................ 24 

Figure 21 - Range Line 9................................................................................................................ 25 

Figure 22 - Range Line 11.............................................................................................................. 25 

Figure 23 - Range Line 13.............................................................................................................. 26 

Figure 24 - Range Line 14.............................................................................................................. 26 

Figure 25 - Range Line 14A........................................................................................................... 27 

Figure 26 - Range Line 15.............................................................................................................. 27 

Figure 27 - Altus Reservoir Longitudinal Profile........................................................................... 29 

Figure 28 - Altus Reservoir Area and Capacity Plots..................................................................... 35 
Figure 29 - Range Line 16 (1967 report)........................................................................................ 36 

Figure 30 - Range Line 16A (1967 report)..................................................................................... 36

Figure 31 - Range Line 17 (1967 report)........................................................................................ 37 

Figure 32 - Range Line 18 (1967 report)........................................................................................ 37 

Figure 33 - 1998 Aerial View of Altus Reservoir. ......................................................................... 42

Index of Tables 

Page 

Table 1 - Reservoir Sediment Data Summary (page 1 of 2)........................................................... 33 

Table 2 - Summary of 2007 Survey Results................................................................................... 39
Altus Reservoir 

2007 Sedimentation Survey 

Introduction 

Altus Dam and Reservoir are principal features of the W.C. Austin (formerly 

Altus) Project in Greer and Kiowa Counties located in southwestern Oklahoma 

(Figure 1). The project is operated and maintained to provide water storage for 

irrigation and flood control on the North Fork of the Red River. The project also 

provides fish and wildlife conservation benefits, municipal water, and recreation 

facilities. The reservoir, located about 18 miles north of Altus, is formed by a 

dam across the North Fork of the Red River and earthen dikes at five low points 

along the reservoir rim. The dam, reservoir, and irrigation distribution system are 

operated by the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District. 

Figure 1 - Reclamation Reservoirs Located in Oklahoma. 

East Dike is 10,240 feet long and 27 feet high, Lugert Dike 4,210 feet long and 47 

feet high, South Dike 330 feet long and 35 feet high, and North Dike 935 feet 

long and 27 feet high with all crests at elevation 1,571.0 feet.1 The Auxiliary or 

 

1 Elevations in feet. All elevations based on the original project datum established by Reclamation that is 

near the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29) and around 0.5 feet lower than the North 

American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). Top of parapet wall, elevation 1,566.67.

1
Santa Fe Railroad Dike is 5,000 feet long and 25 feet high with crest elevation 

1,569.0. 

Altus Dam is a partially curved concrete gravity structure with granite masonry 

except on the downstream face of the overflow section (Figure 2). The dam’s 

dimensions are: 

 Hydraulic height2 62.3 feet Structural height 110 feet 

 Crest length 1,112 feet Crest elevation 1,564.0 feet 

Figure 2 - Downstream Face of Altus Dam. 

Incorporated near dam center are both controlled and uncontrolled overflow-type 

spillways. The uncontrolled section is 110.5 feet wide at crest elevation 1,559.0, 

with a discharge capacity of about 4,900 cubic-feet-seconds (cfs) at reservoir 

elevation 1,564.0. The controlled portion is regulated by nine radial gates, each 

21 feet wide and 15 feet high. The controlled section is 229 feet wide at crest 

elevation 1,547.0 with a top of gate elevation of 1,562.0. The capacity of each 

radial gate at reservoir elevation 1,564.0 is about 5,800 cfs.

 

2 The definition of such terms as “hydraulic height,” “structural height,” etc. may be found in manuals such 

as Reclamation’s Design of Small Dams and Guide for Preparation of Standing Operating Procedures for 

Dams and Reservoirs, or ASCE’s Nomenclature for Hydraulics.

2
The canal outlet works consists of three 72-inch diameter outlet conduits 

controlled by 5-foot by 5-foot high pressure gates. The canal outlet has a total 

capacity of 1,000 cfs at elevation 1,524.0 and 3,500 cfs at elevation 1,559.0. The 

original river outlet works through the dam are no longer operational. 

The drainage area above the dam is 2,515 square miles of which 399 is considered 

noncontributing by the USGS. The area originates about 15 miles west of 

Amarillo, Texas and extends eastward into western Oklahoma. There are no 

known major structures in the watershed to reduce sediment contributions into the 

reservoir. However, the Granite Bridge and the State Highway 9 causeway, 

located within the reservoir about 9 miles upstream of the dam, have a dramatic 

affect on the sediment distribution within the reservoir. The Granite Bridge, near 

the east bank, is the only bypass for sediment downstream of the one-mile long 

causeway. The causeway is an elevated earthen dike that blocks about ninety 

percent of the reservoir. The 1970’s developed USGS quad of the reservoir 

shows the North Fork Red River meandering upstream of the causeway from 

reservoir east bank to west bank, then running parallel along the causeway before 

entering the main body of the reservoir under the bridge. Since this 1970’s 

developed map, the route of the river upstream of the bridge has straightened out 

where it now runs along the east bank of the reservoir. The reservoir is around 

13.1 miles long with an average width of one mile (Figure3). 

Reservoir sedimentation is an ongoing depositional process that can remain 

invisible for a significant portion of the life of a reservoir. As the river enters the 

reservoir the flow depth increases and velocity decreases, resulting in a loss in the 

sediment transport capacity of the inflow, and allowing the sediment to deposit in 

the upper reservoir area (Figure 4). Initially the sediment deposition process 

occurred somewhat differently in Altus Reservoir. The Granite Bridge causeway 

in Altus Reservoir acted as a dam, meaning the majority of the inflowing 

sediment initially deposited in the very upper operation elevation range of the 

reservoir above this structure. The 1948 and 1967 surveys measured the most 

significant change due to sediment deposition in the reservoir above the causeway 

(Lara, 1971). As early as the 1967 reservoir survey, a drawdown of only a few 

feet resulted in a large exposure of the lake bottom in the upper reservoir area 

where the majority of the initial sediment had been deposited. With so much of 

the original upper area having been filled with sediment during the early years of 

reservoir operations, and with the river now flowing more directly into the main 

reservoir area below the causeway, the majority of future inflowing sediments 

will be deposited in the main body of the reservoir downstream of the bridge. 

3
Figure 3 - USGS Quad of Altus Reservoir 

4
Figure 4 - Reservoir Sediment Delta Formation. 

Summary and Conclusions 

This Reclamation report presents the results of the 2007 survey of Altus 

Reservoir. The primary objectives of the survey were to gather data needed to:

$ develop reservoir topography 

$ compute area-capacity relationships 

$ estimate storage depletion, by sediment deposition, since dam closure 

A control survey was conducted using the on-line positioning user service 

(OPUS) and RTK GPS to establish a horizontal and vertical control network near 

the reservoir for the hydrographic surveys. OPUS is operated by the National 

Geodetic Survey (NGS) and allows users to submit GPS data files that are 

processed with known point data to determine positions relative to the national 

control network. Initially, the GPS base was set over a temporary rebar on East 

Dike. The coordinates for this point were processed using OPUS, and from this 

base additional points were established and checked during the November 2006 

and February 2008 land surveys and the June 2007 bathymetric surveys. 

The horizontal control for this study was in feet, Oklahoma South state plane 

coordinates, in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). The vertical 

control was in feet, tied to NAVD88 and the Reclamation project vertical datum. 

All elevations in this report are referenced to Reclamation’s project or 

construction vertical datum that is near NGVD29 and about 0.5 feet lower than 

NAVD88. 

In November 2006, the RTK GPS land survey was conducted near reservoir 

elevation 1,541. Since the basin had been dry for several years, the survey was 

conducted assuming the data would be combined with a spring 2007 bathymetric 

survey where the inflows would provide overlap between the two surveyed areas. 

5
With the high 2007 spring inflows, the reservoir filled and was near elevation 

1,559 when the underwater survey was conducted in June 2007. The bathymetric 

survey used sonic depth recording equipment interfaced with RTK GPS for 

determining the sounding locations. The system continuously recorded depth and 

horizontal coordinates of the survey boat as it navigated along grid lines covering 

Altus Reservoir. The collection system also provided information to allow the 

boat operator to maintain a course along these grid lines. The water surface 

elevations recorded by Reclamation’s reservoir gage during the time of collection 

were used to convert the sonic depth measurements to reservoir bottom 

elevations. The initial above-water topography was determined by digitizing 

contour lines from the USGS quads of the reservoir area. The November 2006, 

June 2007, and February 2008 data was used to make adjustments to the initial 

digitized contours due to some shoreline erosion and changes in the upper 

reservoir resulting from sediment delta formation. 

In February 2008, a four-day RTK GPS land survey was conducted near reservoir 

elevation 1,553. The survey covered a small portion of the shoreline in the main 

body of the reservoir and areas above the causeway. The shoreline data was 

compared with the USGS quad contours and where the survey indicated changes, 

the quad contours were adjusted for new map development. The 2006 and 2007 

surveys were not able to obtain access above the causeway due to the extensive 

vegetation that had developed over the years while the reservoir was drawdown 

during the extended draught. After the reservoir filled in 2007, this vegetation 

was flooded causing much of it to die off. The February survey was able to gain 

access and RTK GPS collection in some of the open areas of the reservoir where 

defoliation had occurred due to the die off and cold temperatures during the 

winter months. There were still vast areas of the upper reservoir and along the 

shoreline where access was not possible due to the remaining dense vegetation 

and debris. The only means to obtain enough data to accurately map these areas 

would be aerial collection. A combination of mapping experience, engineering 

judgment, land survey data, and USGS quad contours, were used to develop the 

new upper reservoir topography. 

The new 2007 Altus Reservoir topographic map is a combination of the adjusted 

digitized quad contours, 2006/2008 land survey data and the 2007 underwater 

survey data points. A topographic computer program generated the 2007 

reservoir surface areas at predetermined contour intervals from the combined 

reservoir data. The 2007 area and capacity tables were produced by a computer 

program that used the measured contour surface areas and a curve-fitting 

technique to compute the area and capacity values at prescribed elevation 

increments (Bureau of Reclamation, 1985). 

Tables 1 and 2 contain summaries of Altus Reservoir and watershed 

characteristics for the 2007 study. The 2007 survey determined the reservoir has 

a total storage capacity of 162,526 acre-feet with a surface area of 7,170 acres at 

the top of the surcharge pool, elevation 1,564.0. Since December 1940 dam 

6
closure, the reservoir has an estimated volume change of 30,316 acre-feet below 

elevation 1,564.0 and 27,749 acre-feet below top of conservation elevation 

1,559.0, resulting in a 17.7 percent loss in original capacity below elevation 

1,559.0. This equates to an average annual loss of 417 acre-feet between 1940 

and 2007. 

Control Survey Data Information 

Prior to the surveys, a temporary point was set on East Dike using OPUS to 

establish the horizontal and vertical control datum (Figure 5). OPUS is operated 

by the NGS and allows users to submit GPS data files that are processed with 

known data to determine point positions relative to the national control network. 

The East Dike temporary point was used as the base for the November 2006, June 

2007, and February 2008 surveys. 

Figure 5 - Temporary Point set on East Dike, November 2006. 

The horizontal control was in Oklahoma south zone state plane coordinates in 

NAD83 and the vertical control was tied to NAVD88 and the Reclamation project 

vertical datum. All elevations in this report are referenced to Reclamation’s 

project or construction vertical datum that is near NGVD29 and around 0.5 feet 

lower than NAVD88. During the November 2006 survey a control shot was taken 

on a brass cap located along the dam alignment on the right bank with following 

results: 

7
North 568,239.44 

East 1,579,523.30 

Elevation 1,570.34

The Oklahoma-Texas Area Office forwarded control data information for a brass 

cap, labeled F105 with following coordinates in NAD27 and NGVD29: 

North 568,201.67 

East 161,122.26 

Elevation 1,569.65 

The point data information was converted to NAD83 and NAVD88 using the 

Corp of Engineers conversion program CORPSCON: 

North 568,241.30 

East 1,579,523.24 

Elevation 1,570.18 

It appears from the coordinates that they are the same datum point. The 

difference vertically is very small, only 0.16 feet, but there is a two-foot 

horizontal shift. This point was shot from a temporary base station established in 

the upper reservoir area. The brass cap was unmarked and visually worn. The 

information could be used as a control check during future surveys. 

Reservoir Operations 

Altus Reservoir is part of the W.C. Austin Project that was designed to provide 

storage for irrigation, municipal water, and flood control. The project also 

provides benefits for fish and wildlife conservation and recreation facilities. The 

June 2007 capacity table lists 162,526 acre-feet of total storage below the 

maximum water surface elevation 1,564.03

, table 1. The 2007 survey measured a 

minimum lake bottom elevation of 1,510.5. The following values are from the 

June 2007 capacity table: 

 $ 13,981 acre-feet of surcharge pool storage between elevation 1,562.0 and 

 1,564.0 

 $ 19,626 acre-feet of flood control pool storage between elevation 1,559.0 and 

 1,562.0 

 $ 128,286 acre-feet of conservation pool storage between elevation 1,517.5 and 

 1,559.0 

 $ 633 acre-feet of dead pool storage below elevation 1,517.5.0 

 

3 2007 Altus Reservoir area and capacity tables were extended to elevation 1,570.0. From 

elevation 1,564.0 through 1,566.67, top of parapet wall, there is 19,903 acre-feet of storage. 

8
The computed annual inflow and reservoir stage records for Altus Reservoir are 

listed by water year in Table 1 for the available period 1945 through 2007. The 

inflow values were computed by the Great Plains Regional Office and showed the 

annual fluctuation with a computed average annual inflow of 104,039 acre-feet. 

The maximum reservoir elevation of 1,562.1 was recorded during water year 

1951. The minimum reservoir elevation of 1,523.0 was recorded during water 

year 1985. During water years 2002 through 2007, the reservoir was below 

elevation 1,530 four out of the six years of reservoir operation, meaning the active 

reservoir body remained between the dam and the Granite Bridge. 

Hydrographic Survey Equipment and 

Method 

The hydrographic survey equipment was mounted in the cabin of a 24-foot trihull 

aluminum vessel equipped with twin in-board motors (Figure 6). The 

hydrographic system included a GPS receiver with a built-in radio, a depth 

sounder, a helmsman display for navigation, a computer, and hydrographic 

system software for collecting the underwater data. An on-board generator 

supplied power to all the equipment. The shore equipment included a second 

GPS receiver with an external radio. The GPS receiver and antenna were 

mounted on a survey tripod over a known datum point and a 12-volt battery 

provided the power for the shore unit. 

Figure 6 - Survey Vessel with Mounted Instrumentation on Jackson Lake in Wyoming. 

The Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group uses RTK GPS with the major 

benefit being precise heights measured in real time to monitor water surface 

elevation changes. The basic output from a RTK receiver are precise 3-D 

coordinates in latitude, longitude, and height with accuracies on the order of 2 

centimeters horizontally and 3 centimeters vertically. The output is on the GPS 

9
datum of WGS-84 that the hydrographic collection software converted into 

Oklahoma’s state plane coordinates, south zone in NAD83. The RTK GPS 

system employs two receivers that track the same satellites simultaneously just 

like with differential GPS. 

The Altus Reservoir bathymetric survey was conducted from June 4 through June 

9 of 2007 between water surface elevation 1,559.2 and 1,559.5 (Reclamation 

project datum). The boat was not used for several of the days due to extreme 

winds. The bathymetric survey was conducted using sonic depth recording 

equipment, interfaced with a RTK GPS, capable of determining sounding 

locations within the reservoir. The survey system software continuously recorded 

reservoir depths and horizontal coordinates as the survey boat moved along 

closely spaced grid lines covering the reservoir area. Most transects (grid lines) 

were run somewhat parallel to the upstream-downstream alignment of the 

reservoir at around 200-foot spacing. The survey vessel's guidance system gave 

directions to the boat operator to assist in maintaining the course along these 

predetermined lines. Data was collected along the shore by the survey vessel for 

the majority of the reservoir. There were coves on both the east and west sides of 

the reservoir that were not covered by the survey vessel due to shallow water 

conditions and thick vegetation that invaded those areas during the recent 

reservoir draw down. Vegetation was also a problem in the very upper reach of 

the reservoir, both upstream and downstream of the Granite Bridge where it 

hindered access by the survey vessel. During each run, the depth and position 

data were recorded on the laptop computer hard drive for subsequent processing. 

Final processing of the underwater collected data set resulted in around 98,000 

points (Figure 7). 

The 2007 underwater data was collected by a depth sounder calibrated by 

lowering an instrument that measured the sound velocity of the reservoir water 

column. The individual depth soundings were adjusted by the speed of sound of 

the measurements which can vary with density, salinity, temperature, turbidity, 

and other conditions. The soundings were further verified by lowering a weighted 

cable below the boat with beads marking known depths. The collected data were 

digitally transmitted to the computer collection system through a RS-232 port. 

The depth sounder also produced an analog hard-copy chart of the measured 

depths. These graphed analog charts were analyzed during post-processing, and 

when the analog charted depths indicated a difference from the computer recorded 

bottom depths, the computer data files were modified. The water surface 

elevations at the dam, recorded by a Reclamation gage, were used to convert the 

sonic depth measurements to true lake-bottom elevations. Additional information 

on collection and analysis procedures is included in Engineer and Design: 

Hydrographic Surveying (Corps of Engineers, January 2002) and Reservoir 

Survey and Data Analysis (Ferrari and Collins, 2006). 

10
11
12
A RTK GPS land survey was conducted by personnel from Reclamation and 

Lugert-Altus Irrigation District in November 2006 when the reservoir level was 

low, near elevation 1,541. Due to the extended drought and calls to survey the 

reservoir, the land survey was conducted under the assumption that the reservoir 

may not rise very much during spring runoff. Under that assumption, the land 

survey concentrated within the lower reservoir elevations where the terrain was 

wide open and sediment deposition had occurred. The survey was accomplished 

by mounting the RTK GPS receivers on all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) and setting 

them to automatically collect data every ten feet as the ATV’s proceeded around 

the reservoir area where they had access (Figure 8). Access was limited due to 

thick vegetation in the upper elevations along the shore, upstream of the Granite 

Bridge, and also areas just downstream of the bridge. Collection near the existing 

water surface was also limited due to the soft bottom conditions that caused the 

vehicles to become stuck at times. Some data was collected on foot below the 

Granite Bridge along the river channel where openings in the vegetation allowed 

access and RTK GPS collection (Figure 9). The ground survey data was tied to 

the same control network as the bathymetric collection with elevations tied to 

NAVD88. During post processing, the elevations were shifted to match the 

Reclamation vertical datum, near NGVD29. 

Figure 8 - RTK GPS instruments mounted on all terrain vehicles in upper reservoir area. 

Far vehicle is parked near the reservoir water's edge. 

13
Figure 9 - View from the Granite Bridge looking upstream. Shows the thick vegetation that 

has established itself on the sediment deposition, preventing access for GPS measurements. 

In February 2008, an additional RTK GPS land survey was conducted by 

personnel from Reclamation and the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District when the 

reservoir level was near elevation 1,553. The four-day survey was conducted 

along a small portion of the shoreline in the main body of the reservoir and above 

the causeway. The shoreline data was compared with previous digitized USGS 

quad contours that were adjusted as warranted. The previous surveys were not 

able to gain access above the causeway due to the extensive vegetation growth 

while the reservoir was drawn down over the past few years. Full reservoir 

operation in 2007 flooded and killed some of this vegetation. The February 

survey was able to gain access in some open areas of the reservoir where the 

defoliation allowed RTK GPS ground shots. There was still a vast portion of the 

reservoir in the upper area and along the shoreline where access and GPS 

collection was not possible due to the thick vegetation and debris, especially in 

the extreme upper reservoir above elevation 1,556. The only means to obtain 

enough data to accurately map these areas of the reservoir would be aerial 

collection. But the 2006 and 2008 land surveys did allow limited reservoir 

topographic development. During the February 2008 survey, there was a shallow 

body of water upstream of Granite Bridge similar to that shown in the photograph 

on the cover of this report and in Figure 33. At the time of the 2008 survey, there 

was no connecting channel between this body of water and the main reservoir. 

The survey measured the upper body water surface about one foot higher than the 

main body reservoir water surface. The two bodies connect near reservoir 

elevation 1555. 

14
Reservoir Area and Capacity 

Topography Development 

The topography of Altus Reservoir was developed from the 2006 and 2008 above 

water survey data, the 2007 below water survey data, and the digitized contours 

from the USGS quad maps. The USGS quad contours at elevations 1,547.0, 

1,550.0 and 1,559.0 were developed from aerial photography dated 1970. The 

modified elevation 1,559.0 contour was used as a hard boundary for the 2007 

developed contours, allowing contour mapping only within the reservoir area 

outlined by this hardclip contour. The 2006, 2007, and 2008 survey data sets 

were used to make adjustments to the initial digitized 1,559.0 contour where 

shoreline erosion and deposition occurred in the lower reservoir reach, but the 

majority of the adjustment was done in the upper reservoir above the causeway 

where the majority of the sediment deposition has occurred. 

The adjusted contour, elevation 1,559.0, was used to perform the hardclip around 

the survey data points from elevation 1,559.0 and below within Altus Reservoir. 

The hardclip was used during the triangular irregular network (TIN) development 

to prevent interpolation outside the enclosed polygon. The 1,559.0 contour was 

selected for the hardclip boundary since it was the closest data available to 

represent the water surface during the 2007 underwater survey. There was 

adequate RTK GPS ground collection data near elevation 1,559.0 upstream and 

downstream of Granite Bridge to allow adjustments to be made to the USGS quad 

contour with confidence, but aerial collection would provide the most reliable 

method of mapping the above water topography. 

Using ARC GIS editor, the 2006, 2007, and 2008 survey data sets along with all 

the digitized contours were plotted. There were coves on both the east and west 

sides of the reservoir and in the area upstream of Granite Bridge that were not 

covered by any of the surveys due to the thick vegetation that invaded these areas 

during recent years of reservoir draw down. This was also a problem in the very 

upper reach of the reservoir just downstream of the Granite Bridge where thick 

vegetation hindered access by the survey vessel during the underwater survey and 

prevented access during both land surveys. For these areas, data points were 

added for elevation 1,447.0; 1,550.0; 1,552.0; 1,554.0 and 1,559.0 using the quad 

map contours and limited survey data as a guide. In the cove areas of the 

reservoir, one would expect minimal change due to sediment inflow. However, 

the 2008 ground survey did measure some change. These measured changes were 

limited and were attributed to reservoir bank erosion and wind blown sediments. 

Using Google Earth (http//earth.goggle.com) a satellite image of the reservoir was 

obtained from a period when the reservoir water extended above the Granite 

Bridge. It was assumed the reservoir water surface in the satellite image was near 

15
elevation 1,555.0 or slightly higher. The satellite image showed the reservoir 

water body in the coves similar in shape to the upper USGS quad contours. Using 

all available information, points were added along the elevation 1,547.0 and 

1,550.0 quad contours in the side coves as necessary to allow the software 

program to develop more accurate contours. The cross sections collected during 

the 1967 Altus Reservoir survey showed that much of the original area upstream 

of Granite Bridge, above elevation 1,550.0, had been lost due to sediment 

deposition. Additional confirmation of this deposition was obtained from the 

2008 land survey. Points were also added along the upstream causeway 

alignment and pond outline. The points were added using ARCGIS editor where 

they were interpolated using all available data and previous mapping experience. 

Contours for the reservoir below elevation 1,559.0 were developed from the TIN 

generated within ARCGIS. A TIN is a set of adjacent non-overlapping triangles 

computed from irregularly spaced points with x,y coordinates and z values. A 

TIN is designed to deal with continuous data such as elevations. The TIN 

software uses a method known as Delaunay's criteria for triangulation where 

triangles are formed among all data points within the polygon clip. The method 

requires that a circle drawn through the three nodes of a triangle will contain no 

other point, meaning that all the data points are connected to their nearest 

neighbors to form triangles. This method preserves all the collected data points. 

The TIN method is discussed in detail in the ARCGIS user’s documentation, 

(ESRI, 2007). 

The linear interpolation option of the ARCGIS TIN and CONTOUR commands 

was used to interpolate contours from the Altus Reservoir TIN. The areas of the 

enclosed contour polygons at one-foot increments were computed from the survey 

data for elevations 1,511.0 through 1,556.0. Since limited above water data was 

collected, this study assumed no change in reservoir surface area since the 1967 

survey at elevation 1,565.0 and higher. The surface area of the developed 

elevation 1559.0 contour, minus the island areas, was used for the 2007 area and 

capacity computations. The reservoir contour topography at 2-foot intervals from 

elevation 1,556.0 and below is presented on Figure 10. Development of the 

contours within ARCGIS was directly from the TIN using all the enclosed data 

points resulted in a somewhat jagged representation of the contours. There are 

other mapping packages that can be used to generate smoother contours, but for 

this study the TIN approach including all data points was used to produce the 

most accurate surface area and resulting volume. The best means to develop the 

upper contours and resulting above water reservoir areas would be by aerial 

survey with the reservoir drawn down, but budget limitations prevented such 

collection. 

16
17
18
Lateral Distribution 

Profiles of several of the 25 previously surveyed sedimentation range lines were 

developed during this study to provide a visual representation of the lateral 

sediment deposition change since the 1948 and 1967 surveys (Figures 11 through 

26). The location of the range lines along with the data points collected by this 

study are presented on Figure 7. The range line locations were visually 

determined from the reservoir sedimentation range system maps presented in the 

1967 survey report. The range line plots were recreated by digitizing the 1948 

and 1967 sedimentation range plots presented in the 1967 report (Lara, 1971). It 

appears the plots are from left to right bank looking downstream. The plots in the 

1967 report were of a small scale, but enough detail was presented to allow digital 

interpolation. Using tools within ARCGIS, 2007 cross section data was 

developed by cutting profiles through the surveyed data points. The routine 

stored the nearest points along the projected range lines. These stored points 

varied from 10 to 50 feet from the projected alignment depending on available 

data. As seen from Figure 7, there were no data points from Range Lines 16 and 

above, and only limited data points available for Range Lines 13, 14, and 14a. 

Thick vegetation would have hindered much of the data collection above range 

line 16, but previous survey results showed that this area of the reservoir had 

mostly silted in laterally from elevation 1,555.0 and below. The 1967 results 

showed that large areas above elevation 1,559.0 had also been lost to sediment 

deposition. 

The Range Line plots provided valuable insight into the change in lateral 

sediment distribution. Range Lines 1 and 2 showed minimal sediment deposit 

since 1967 considering the length of time (40 years) between surveys. Minor 

sediment deposition was also measured at Range Lines 2A, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6A, 7 and 8. 

The first significant lateral buildup of sediment occurred at range line 9, located 

about 1.5 miles downstream of the causeway. Considerable sediment buildup was 

also measured at Range Lines 11 and 13, located downstream of the causeway. 

At Range Line 14, located just upstream of the bridge and causeway, there has 

been about five feet of sediment deposition since the 1967 survey. Even though 

limited 2008 survey data was collected above the causeway, the developed Range 

Lines 14, 14A, and 15 each showed the sediment level near elevation 1,555. 

Range Lines 14 and 14A cross the existing upstream water pond, but it appeared 

the average depth was only a few feet and would not significantly impact the 

average bottom elevation computations at these locations. Range Lines 14A and 

15 showed a minimal change in the top sediment level since the 1967 survey. It 

was assumed that surveys of Range Line 16 and above would have produced 

similar general results. 

 

19
Altus Reservoir Range Line 1

1,500.0

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 11 - Range Line 1. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 2

1,500.0

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 12 - Range Line 2. 

20
Altus Reservoir Range Line 2A

1,500.0

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0 500.0 600.0 700.0 800.0 900.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

Original 1967 2007

Figure 13 - Range Line 2A. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 3

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 14 - Range Line 3. 

21
Altus Reservoir Range Line 4

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 15 - Range Line 4. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 5

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0 8,000.0 9,000.0 10,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 16 - Range Line 5. 

22
Altus Reservoir Range Line 6

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0 8,000.0 9,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 17 - Range Line 6. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 6A

1,510.0

1,520.0

1,530.0

1,540.0

1,550.0

1,560.0

1,570.0

1,580.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0 8,000.0 9,000.0 10,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 18 - Range Line 6A. 

23
Altus Reservoir Range Line 7

1,520.0

1,525.0

1,530.0

1,535.0

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0 8,000.0 9,000.0 10,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 19 - Range Line 7. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 8

1,525.0

1,530.0

1,535.0

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

4,000.0 4,500.0 5,000.0 5,500.0 6,000.0 6,500.0 7,000.0 7,500.0 8,000.0 8,500.0 9,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 20 - Range Line 8. 

24
Altus Reservoir Range Line 9

1,525.0

1,530.0

1,535.0

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0 8,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 21 - Range Line 9. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 11

1,530.0

1,535.0

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0 7,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 22 - Range Line 11.

25
Altus Reservoir Range Line 13

1,535.0

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 23 - Range Line 13. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 14

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

1,580.0

0.0 500.0 1,000.0 1,500.0 2,000.0 2,500.0 3,000.0 3,500.0 4,000.0 4,500.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 24 - Range Line 14. 

26
Altus Reservoir Range Line 14A

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 500.0 1,000.0 1,500.0 2,000.0 2,500.0 3,000.0 3,500.0 4,000.0 4,500.0 5,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 25 - Range Line 14A. 

Altus Reservoir Range Line 15

1,540.0

1,545.0

1,550.0

1,555.0

1,560.0

1,565.0

1,570.0

1,575.0

0.0 1,000.0 2,000.0 3,000.0 4,000.0 5,000.0 6,000.0

Distance - Feet

Elevation - Feet

1948 1967 2007

Figure 26 - Range Line 15. 

27
Longitudinal Distribution 

A means to further illustrate the sediment accumulation is a longitudinal plot of 

the distribution throughout the reservoir from Range Line 1 upstream (Figure 27). 

The longitudinal profile of the original river channel was projected from a small 

plot presented in the 1967 report. The profiles from 1948, 1967 and 2007, for 

Range Lines 1 through 15, were developed by computing the average main 

channel bottom elevation for each range line. To extend the 1948 and 1967 

profiles above Range Line 15, the location and elevations were interpolated from 

the plot in the 1967 report. The profile shows an extreme rise in sediment depths 

occurring at Range Line 14, located just upstream of the Granite Bridge. From 

this pivot point (Figure 4), the sediment deposition slopes upstream, but does not 

show a major change since the 1967 survey. It is assumed that the 2007 profile 

upstream of Range Line 15 would not differ much from the 1967 profile. The rise 

of sediment depth at Range Line 14 going upstream for both the 1967 and 2007 

surveys shows the influence of the causeway that restricts the inflowing river 

sediment before it enters the main reservoir body by passing downstream under 

the bridge. The 2007 plot shows the sediment build up downstream of the bridge 

(foreset slope) at Range Lines 9, 11 and 13. Further downstream towards the dam 

(Range Line 8 downstream), the sediment deposited along the bottomset slope to 

the dam and only shows a slight build up since the 1967 survey. Over time, it is 

expected the pivot point will begin to move further downstream, but the causeway 

will continue to influence this along with the sediment inflow rate. The 

comparison of the 1948, 1967 and 2007 profiles illustrates that the sediment 

inflow into the reservoir as been significantly reduced since the 1967 survey. The 

depths between these profiles show the buildup between the survey periods with 

the 2007 profile only showing a major change from Range Line 9 upstream to 

Range Line 14. When you figure the time period between the surveys, the 

profiles further illustrate the significant reduction in sediment inflow since the 

1948 and 1967 surveys.

28
Altus Reservoir Longitudinal Profiles

1,5001,5051,5101,5151,5201,5251,5301,5351,5401,5451,5501,5551,5601,5651,5701,575

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 

Distance in Miles

Elevation in Feet

Original 1948 1967 2007

Granite Bridge -------------

------ RL2A

----- RL3

----- RL6A

----- RL2

------ RL4

-------- RL5

------ RL6

----- RL7

----- RL15

---- RL 11

----- RL8

------ RL9

----- RL13

-------- RL14, 

29
30
Development of the 2007 Altus Reservoir Surface 

Areas 

The 2007 surface areas for Altus Reservoir were computed at 1-foot increments 

directly from the reservoir TIN from elevation 1,510.0 through 1,556.0. The TIN 

was developed from collected and interpolated data sets within the hardclip 

polygon created from the previously described digitized 1,559.0 contour. Surface 

area calculations were performed using ARCGIS commands that compute areas at 

user-specified elevations directly from the TIN. For the purpose of this study, the 

measured survey areas at 2- and 5-foot increments from elevation 1,510.0 through 

1,556.0 were used in computing the new area and capacity tables. The 2007 

adjusted 1,559.0 contour with resulting surface area was an input for computing 

the new area and capacity tables. This study assumed no change in surface area, 

since the 1967 survey, at elevation 1,565.0 and above. A straight line 

interpolation was used to compute the surface areas between elevations 1,559.0 

and 1,565.0. A 1967 area and capacity table was located that showed the 1967 

study computed the surface area and resulting capacity using straight-line 

interpolation between elevation 1,550.0 to 1,565.0. No written explanation was 

given, but the 1967 Altus Reservoir study did have surveyed range lines in the 

upper reservoir that measured the major changes. 

The 1967 surveyed cross sections above the Granite Bridge showed the causeway 

as a major restriction of sediment flowing into the lower body of the reservoir. 

The 1967 cross sections showed that since the 1948 survey, the majority of the 

surface area from the causeway upstream from elevation 1,550.0 and below had 

been lost due to sediment accumulation. The surveyed range lines also showed 

that a large portion of the surface area above elevation 1,550.0 had been lost due 

to sediment deposition. Due to this measured deposition, it appears the 1967 

method of projecting the data between elevations 1,550.0 to 1,565.0 was the only 

means available outside of additional data collection. The 2007 study had the 

same issues, but the collected data determined that projecting was only necessary 

from elevation 1,559.0 to 1,565.0. 

Table 1 provides a summary of all the surveys that have been conducted on Altus 

Reservoir including the 1940 (original), 1948, 1953, 1967, and 2007 results. The 

area and capacity curves for all of these surveys are plotted on Figure 28. The 

table and plots show interesting results from all of these surveys. The 1948 

results actually showed a slight increase in surface area at elevation 1,559.0 while 

the 1953 and 1967 survey results showed a significant loss of surface area at the 

same elevation. The original surface areas were measured from developed 

contours, and until 2007, all the surveys were conducted by measuring 25 or 26 

cross sections to represent the 16 mile length of Altus Reservoir. The 1967 Altus 

Reservoir surface areas were computed using the range width ratio method 

explained in more detail in Chapter 9 of the Sedimentation Groups Erosion and 

Sedimentation Manual (Ferrari and Collins, 2006). 

31
At first look, one could question such a large loss of surface area at the elevation 

1,559.0 contour in 1967 when compared to the previous surveys. Upon viewing 

the range line plots above the Granite Bridge, it showed that a major surface area 

loss occurred in these upper elevation contours (Figures 11 through 26 and 

Figures 29 through 32). The Figure 29 through 32 plots are of the 1948 and 1967 

survey results showing the sediment build-up along these range lines. 

As part of the 2007 analysis, the USGS quad contours of the reservoir area were 

digitized. These contours were developed from 1970 aerial photographs that were 

taken only three years after the 1967 survey. The following table shows the 

surface area results from the digitized contours along with the 1940 original and 

1967 survey results. 

Elevation Year of Survey

 (Feet) (Surface area in acres) 

1940 1967 1970 Aerial

1,540.0 3,720 3,219 3,512 

1,547.0 4,777 4,081 4,511 

1,559.0 6,772 6,260 6,431 

Note: For elevation 1,559.0, the total digitized USGS area is with the islands 

removed, but above the Granite Bridge there appears to be additional islands that 

show as high green shaded areas on the quad sheet. 

The table results show the differences between using the range line method of 

computation, as was used in 1967, versus the 1970 aerial results. The 1970 

surface areas for elevation 1,540.0 and 1,547.0 are both around ten percent higher 

than the 1967 results. For elevation 1,559.0, the difference was only three 

percent. There are errors associated with the scale of the USGS quad maps that 

need to be considered. But the aerial data should provide the most accurate 

measurement of the surface area throughout the reservoir. The aerial data 

included the shoreline coves that may have been projected as silted-in during the 

1967 analysis. If the coves were improperly evaluated in 1967, some of the 1967 

data results could be flawed. The 2007 study used the USGS quad contour data 

information to represent the side coves. The February 2008 RTK GPS survey 

helped in developing the elevation 1,559.0 contour that was used for the 2007 

reservoir mapping. This additional data helped to validate the 1,559.0 contour 

development, but primarily assisted in adjusting this contour above the causeway 

that has been greatly affected due to sediment deposition. The computed surface 

area for the 2007 adjusted 1,559.0 contour was 6,273 acres, nearly matching the 

computed results projected during the 1967 surface area development. 

32
33

1. 2. 3. STATE Oklahoma

4. 5. Altus 6. COUNTY

7. ° 53 ' 8 " ° 17 ' 43 " 8. 2 9. SPILLWAY CREST EL 3

10. 11. 12. GROSS STORAGE 15

CAPACITY, AC-FT

a. 4

b. 5

c.

d. 16

e.

f.

g.

17. LENGTH OF RESERVOIR

18. TOTAL DRAINAGE AREA 6 22. 7

19. NET SEDIMENT CONTRIBUTING AREA 6 23. MEAN ANNUAL RUNOFF

20. LENGTH MILES AVG. WIDTH MILES 24. MEAN ANNUAL INFLOW 8

21. 25. °F °F7

26. DATE OF 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. C/

26. DATE OF 35. 36

8 8 8

26. DATE OF 37. 38.

26. DATE OF 39.AVG. DRY WT. 40. SED. DEP. TONS/MI.2

-YR 41. STORAGE LOSS, PCT. 42 SEDIMENT 

(#/FT3

) b. TOTAL b. TOTAL TO INFLOW, PPM

TO DATE DATE a. PER. b. TOT.

43.

12/1940

2.12

7,065

AVG. ANN. c.

6.07 3.03 6.67 8.5 11.12 12.74 25.88 4.05 7.28 7.68 4.86

PERCENT OF TOTAL SEDIMENT LOCATED WITHIN REACH DESIGNATION

14.26 4.48 11.83 11.1 14.42 12.31 7.97 11.93 7.93

20.67

-2.83

2.99

10.54

North Fork, Red River

PERCENT OF TOTAL SEDIMENT LOCATED WITHIN DEPTH DESIGNATION

NEAREST P.O.

2-ft

a.

13,806

a. AVG. ANNUAL

0.065 27,749

0.683

a.

8.81

PERIOD

759 0.700

580 14,673

1,096

5.12

838

417 0.197

9,849

 /MI.2-YR.

0.398

MEAN ANN. b. TOTAL

126,980 952,320

0.521

1,502,793

0.509

103,440 2,730,690

104,039 6,554,452

TOTAL SEDIMENT DEPOSITS TO DATE, AF

1,227,897

3,823,762

6/2007

E 5.1 12.6

A 6/1953 20.3 10

7/1953 5,778

115- 120-

62.3-60

105-

8.5

50-40

0.0

40-30

5.26

6/1948

10

a.

6,793

2116

TYPE OF 

Contour (D)

Range (D)

NO. OF

10 27

PER.

YRS

PER.

YRS

26.4

40.1

89,000

107,940

MILES

PRECIPITATION

66.5

146.5

U

Range (D)

13.

IRRIGATION

12/1940

ANNUAL

SURVEY

4/1967

6/2007

Range (D)

STORAGE

ALLOCATION

ELEVATION

2515

13.1

SQUARE MILES

24.4

0.01

0.01

0.01

0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 110-

1.7

13.54

28.31

26.61

13.71

3.24

1.99

16.48

8.22 25.96 12.44

19.35

22.62

14.85

16.0 16.2 17.1

 

20.62

16.47

18.92

14.12

0.266 17.70

70.2 609 10

C-5

8,213 9,113 0.535

 60-50 30-20 20-10 10-C

 

3.78

7,072

DEPTH DESIGNATION RANGE IN FEET BELOW AND ABOVE CREST ELEVATION

90-100

4/1967

26.

DATE

OF

16.1

DATE

6/1948 580

472

52.3 10

7/1953 66.9 10 1,023

4/1967

6/2007 139

8,368 10

128,919

550,473 119,270

952,320

c. TOTAL a. 

126,980

6,273

5,575

10

8,028 0.506 10

0.286

1,133

1,070

606

383,347

 /MI.2

-YR.

0.535

RANGES OR 

134,494

0.9

ACRE-FEET

AREA, AC.

LAT

MILES

24.2

1,559.0

JOINT USE

CONSERVATION

1,564.0

LONG 99

SURCHARGE

TOP OF DAM ELEVATION

RANGE 20W

M 34

D

8

Bureau of Reclamation

95,356

256,700

7/1953

STREAM

22

INTERVALS

Contour (D)

S

1

63

S

A

B

17.2

MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION

I

O

N 3,500+

152,060

AVG. WIDTH OF RESERVOIR

I

7,705

INACTIVE

DEAD

E FLOOD CONTROL

S

6,772

R

V

R

E

ORIGINAL

36,174

SURFACE AREA, AC-FT

R

TOP OF POOL

192,842

156,668

1496.7

4,608

13.8

148,640

MAX. ELEVATION

SQUARE MILES

MIN. ELEVATION

INCHES

INCHES

104,039

1,517.5 1,073 4,608

142,862

156,668

RATIO AF/AF

32.

ACRE - FEET

BEGAN

DATE NORMAL

33.

OPERATIONS

6/19/1946

to 120

BEGAN

1.24

1.29

1.37

1.43

1.51

22,174

8,028 1,070

MAX. ANN.

188,800

b.

PERIOD WATER INFLOW, ACRE-FEET

213,400

MEAN ANN.

10

10

10

6/1948

7

a. TOTAL

6/2007

AVG. ANN. c. b.

7.5 7.5

24.2

b.

34. PERIOD

24.4

V

R

6/1948

ANNUAL TEMP, MEAN °F RANGE -11

CAPACITY

WATER INFLOW TO DATE, AF

SURVEY

PERIOD CAPACITY LOSS, ACRE-FEET

TOTAL

SURVEY

4/1967

SURVEY

A

T

Y

D

SURVEY

6/2007

SURVEY

26. 44.

6/1948

7/1953

4/1967

REACH DESIGNATION PERCENT OF TOTAL ORIGINAL LENGTH OF RESERVOIR

6/1948

4/1967

RESERVOIR SEDIMENT

DATA SUMMARY

Altus Reservoir1

A 5 TWP. N

OWNER

SEC

NAME OF RESERVOIR 1

DATA SHEET NO.

9

25

2 to 5-feet 6,772

26

25

6,575

9

6,260

Greer-Kiowa

ORIGINAL 

SURFACE

DATE

STORAGE

1564.0

14.

1559.0

ACRE-FEET

Table 1 - Reservoir Sediment Data Summary (page 1 of 2). 
34

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1,550.0 4,570 81,774 1,552.0 91,164 1,554.0 5,053 101,038

1,548.0

1,564.0

60,796

177,267

64,706

128,919

1,546.0 72,940

162,526

3,970

1,559.0 6,273

4,820

1,545.0

1,556.0

3,849

5,362

1949

1,528.2

1,540.8

1951 1,551.6

1947

139,900

1,550.5

1,560.2

1,562.1 213,400

1,526.9 160,200

1,542.0

1,553.5 158,600

12,920

51,180

1946

1948

1950

1,531.2

1,548.0

1,560.4

 Irrigation capacity includes 4,800 acre-feet of municipal use. 

 

2,610

SURVEY 11 

1,564.0 7,705 192,842 

1,557.5

1960

6,772 156,668

1940

116

1,557.9

1,560.0

1,539.4

ELEVATION AREA CAPACITY

1,550.3

1,559.1

1,559.9 1,548.3

1,500.0 1 2 1 SURVEY

134

2,510

1,545.0 4,279

1,530.0

1,559.0

7,793

1,540.0

2007

1,530.0 2,049

1,525.0 1,603

 2007 underwater survey with limited 2006 and 2008 land surveys generated topography up to elevation 1,556.0. Used 1967 results at 

 elevation 1,567.0 to interpolate areas from elevations 1,556.0 through 1,567.0. The 1967 study interpolated areas from elevations 1,550

3,180

47. REMARKS AND REFERENCES

 Values from USGS Water Resources Data book for Oklahoma.

 Bureau of Reclamation's Project Data Book, 1981.

 1940, 1948, 1953, and 1967 surveys from table 2 of report "The 1967 Altus Reservoir Sediment Survey. (http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/sediment).

 Dam crest elevation 1,564.0, top of parapet wall elevation 1,566.67.

49. Bureau of Reclamation March 2008

 Capacity values computed by Reclamation program, ACAP. Surface area data from elevation 1,510.0 through 1,556.0 from 2007 survey 

 study. Surface area data from 1967 used to project reservoir information above elevation 1,559.0. Note that limited collected above water 

AGENCY MAKING SURVEY

 data was used to adjust the USGS upper reservoir quad contours developed in 1970. 

AGENCY SUPPLYING DATA DATE

8

1940-44

1,505.0

1,515.0

1,520.0

1,535.0

1,566.67

YEAR MAX. ELEV.

48. Bureau of Reclamation

 Uncontrolled spillway crest.

 Maximum water surface includes surcharge, elevation 1,562.0 to 1,564.0, and flood control zone, elevation 1,559.0 and 1,562.0. 

 Date of original survey for new dam over deposits placed behind old dam. 

 Mean annual runoff of 104,039 acre-feet from available records, water years 1945 through 2007. 

 Values from 1940 through 1967 from Table 2 of 1967 Altus Reservoir Sediment Survey report. 

 through 1,567.0. 2007 surface area at 1,559.0 measured from digitized USGS quad contour modified with new survey data. 

MIN. ELEV. INFLOW, AF

59,000

MIN. ELEV. INFLOW, AF YEAR MAX. ELEV.

1945 1,536.9 1,523.2

185

1,889

28,719

43,191

17,065

7,971

27,668

1952 1,530.8

1,525.8

1986 1,545.5 1,530.0

1990

1,545.0

1,551.8 15,750

1954 1,549.6 1,525.6 99,630 1955 1,525.6 57,150

22,960 1,531.4

1,525.0

1,543.9

1953 1,525.6

122,900

1958 1,549.4 64,190 1959 1,559.9 1,548.6 120,600

1956 49,620

136,700 1961 1,562.0

1957 1,559.5

1,552.7 188,800

1972 1,526.8 43,762 1973 1,553.0 1,526.4 102,159

1,552.5

129,403

1978 1,544.1 120,157 1979 1,558.1 1,543.8 90,571

1974 1,538.0

51,861 1981

44,463 1975 1,559.0 1,539.6

13,644

1984 1,546.0 1,525.3 44,314 1985 1,537.6 1,523.0

1980 1,534.4

232,191

80,091

1988 1,559.5 1,544.6 82,767

1987 1,560.3 1,554.8 345,585

1991 1,557.3 1,546.2

1989 1,559.1 1,550.7

66,339

1992 1,559.5 1,546.0 115,575 1993 1,561.6 1,548.7 168,170

128,433

1994 1,554.2 1,532.4 65,635 1995 1,560.7 1,532.5 214,118

1996 1,559.2 1,552.0 142,654

1,545.3 1,530.7 58,892

1997

2005

1999

1,559.7 1,539.0 96,128 2001

1,553.0 1,534.0 105,867

1,559.8 1,526.6 175,127

ELEVATION AREA

2006 1,545.5 1,525.5 27,906

46. ELEVATION - AREA - CAPACITY - DATA FOR

41,678

2007

1,496.7 0 0

 CAPACITY

2,719

1,159 3,854

2,276 21,390

1,692

31,383

49,826

1,510.0 135 586 1,515.0 678 2,448

1,518.0 307 776

58,718

131,132

78

16,302

6,451

1,538.0 2,954 37,056

1,524.0 1,438

26,165

CAPACITY ELEVATION AREA CAPACITY

1,542.0 3,455

1,522.0

57,008

 

1,544.0 3,728

4,264

7,170

1,516.0 145 324

1,570.0 8,678 209,853

1,536.0

1970

45. RANGE IN RESERVOIR OPERATION

806

58

182,429

2004

1968 1,545.0 1,529.9 56,018 1969 1,559.0 1,545.7 116,807

1,554.0 1,535.9 24,113 1971 1,535.6 1,527.7 11,040

1962 1,560.1 1,551.8 122,800 1963 1,559.3 1,554.1 62,800

1964 1,548.2 1,529.3 31,300 1965 1,547.7 1,528.5 79,660

1966 1,551.7 1,537.7 68,740 1967 1,542.0 1,530.0 42,340

1,535.0 3,013 1,540.0 3,720

78,704 1,550.0 5,302 102,872 1,555.0 6,007

1,510.0 0 0 1,512.0 6 6 1,514.0 80

1,517.5 1,073 4,608 1,520.0 1,445 7,732 1,525.0 1,991

1976 1,561.8 1,547.9 55,862 1977 1,559.2 1,547.7

1998 1,559.5 1,536.0 228,248

243,083

1,559.4 1,536.5 136,696

1,562.2 1,555.6 383,347

37,444

1,536.6 1,525.8

1,540.4 148,041

2002 1,547.2 1,527.2 30,374 2003 1,547.5 1,527.4

2000

76,224

1982 1,558.0 1,527.0 130,976 1983 1,555.1 1,537.3 49,227

1,560.3

1,532.0

1,526.0 9,619 1,528.0 1,853 13,163

1,534.0 2,498

Table 1 – Reservoir Sediment Data Summary (page 2 of 2). 
35

Area-Capacity Curves for Altus Reservoir

1,5001,5101,5201,5301,5401,5501,5601,570

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000 160000 18

Capacity (acre-feet)

Elevation (feet)

8,000 7,200 6,400 5,600 4,800 4,000 3,200 2,400 1,600 8

Area (acres)

2007196719531948Original

Figure 28 - Altus Reservoir Area and Capacity Plots 
Figure 29 - Range Line 16 (1967 report). 

Figure 30 - Range Line 16A (1967 report). 

36
Figure 31 - Range Line 17 (1967 report). 

Figure 32 - Range Line 18 (1967 report). 

37
2007 Storage Capacity 

The storage-elevation relationships based on the measured surface areas were 

developed using the area-capacity computer program ACAP (Bureau of 

Reclamation, 1985). The ACAP program can compute the area and capacity at 

elevation increments from 0.01 to 1.0 foot by linear interpolation between the 

given contour surface areas. The program begins by testing the initial capacity 

equation over successive intervals to ensure that the equation fits within an 

allowable error limit. The error limit was set at 0.000001 for Altus Reservoir. 

The capacity equation is then used over the full range of intervals fitting within 

the allowable error limit. For the first interval at which the initial allowable error 

limit is exceeded, a new capacity equation (integrated from basic area curve over 

that interval) is utilized until it exceeds the error limit. Thus, the capacity curve is 

defined by a series of curves, each fitting a certain region of data. Through 

differentiation of the capacity equations, which are of second order polynomial 

form, final area equations are derived: 

y = a1 + a2x + a3x

2 

 where: y = capacity 

x = elevation above a reference base 

a1 = intercept 

a2 and a3 = coefficients 

Results of the Altus Reservoir area and capacity computations are listed in a 

separate set of 2007 area and capacity tables and have been published for the 0.01, 

0.1 and 1-foot elevation increments (Bureau of Reclamation, 2007). A 

description of the computations and coefficients output from the ACAP program 

is included with these tables. The original, 1948, 1953, 1967, and 2007 areacapacity relationships are listed on table 2 and the curves are plotted on Figure 28. 

As of June 2007, at conservation use elevation 1,559.0, the surface area was 6,273 

acres with a total capacity of 128,919 acre-feet. 

38
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

1948 1948 1953 1953 1

 Original Original 1948 1948 Sediment Percent 1953 1953 Sediment Percent 1967 1967 Sed

Elevation Area Capacity Area Capacity Volume Computed Area Capacity Volume Computed Area Capacity Vo

Feet Acres Ac-Ft Acres Ac-Ft Ac-Ft Sediment Acres Ac-Ft Ac-Ft Sediment Acres Ac-Ft Ac

1,564 7,705 192,842 7,773 185,035 7,807 7,740 178,610 14,232 7,168 168,063 1,559 6,772 156,668 6,793 148,640 8,028 100.0 6,575 142,862 13,806 100.0 6,260 134,494 

1,555 6,007 131,132 5,951 123,178 7,954 99.1 5,769 118,192 12,940 93.7 5,534 110,907 

1,550 5,302 102,872 5,102 95,568 7,304 91.0 4,945 91,433 11,439 82.9 4,626 85,506 

1,547 4,777 87,670 4,543 81,108 6,562 81.7 4,422 77,390 10,280 74.5 4,144 72,350 

1,545 4,279 78,704 4,120 72,444 6,260 78.0 4,124 68,846 9,858 71.4 3,823 64,383 

1,540 3,720 58,718 3,561 53,254 5,464 68.1 3,577 49,609 9,109 66.0 3,219 46,778 

1,535 3,103 41,678 2,915 37,086 4,592 57.2 2,912 33,415 8,263 59.9 2,616 32,191 

1,530 2,510 27,668 2,270 24,155 3,513 43.8 2,199 20,679 6,989 50.6 2,165 20,240 

1,525 1,991 16,302 1,787 14,035 2,267 28.2 1,578 11,280 5,022 36.4 1,645 10,715 

1,520 1,445 7,732 1,292 6,368 1,364 17.0 1,111 4,591 3,141 22.8 1,103 3,845 

1,517.5 1,073 4,608 922 3,614 994 12.4 735 2,300 2,308 16.7 643 1,663 

1,515 678 2,448 664 1,640 808 10.1 373 940 1,508 10.9 182 632 

1,510 135 586 60 100 486 6.1 41 44 542 3.9 59 30 

1,505 58 116 0 0 116 1.4 0 0 116 0.8 0 0 

1,500 1 2 0 0 2 0.0 0 0 2 0.0 0 0 1,497 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 

1 Reservoir water surface elevation.2 Original reservoir surface area.3 Original reported reservoir capacity.4 1948 reservoir surface area.5 1948 reservoir capacity.6 1948 computed sediment volume, column (3) - column (5).7 1948 measured sediment in percentage of total sediment (8,028 acre-feet at elevation 1,559.0).8 1953 reservoir surface area.9 1953 reservoir capacity.

10 1953 computed sediment volume, column (3) - column (9).11 1953 measured sediment in percentage of total sediment (13,806 acre-feet at elevation 1,559.0).12 1967 reservoir surface area.13 1967 reservoir capacity recomputed using ACAP.14 1967 measured sediment volume, column (3) - column (13).15 1967 measured sediment in percentage of total sediment (22,174 acre-feet at elevation 1,559.0).16 2007 measured reservoir surface area. 2007 surface area at elevation 1,559.0 developed from USGS quad contour adjusted with limited l17 2007 reservoir capacity computed using ACAP.18 2007 measured sediment volume, column (3) - column (17).19 2007 measured sediment in percentage of total sediment (27,749 acre-feet at elevation 1,559.0).20 Depth of reservoir expressed in percentage of total depth, 67.3 feet, from maximum water surface 1,564.0.

39
40
41

2007 Reservoir Sediment Analyses 

Results of the 2007 Altus Reservoir area and capacity computations are listed in 

Table 1 and columns 16 and 17 of Table 2. Columns 2 and 3 of Table 2 list the 

original area and capacity values. The results from the 1948, 1953, and 1967 

surveys are also listed on this table. For most of the previous survey data, only 

limited information was located on how the computations were made, except for 

the 1967 report that indicated all resurveys were by the range line method. 

Column 18 lists the capacity differences between the original and 2007 survey 

results due to sediment deposition. Figure 28 is a plot of the Altus Reservoir 

surface area and capacity values for all surveys, illustrating the differences. The 

comparisons show that the total reservoir capacity in 2007 is 30,316 acre-feet less 

than the original volume at maximum reservoir elevation 1,564.0. It must be 

noted that the 2007 area and capacity tables were generated assuming no surface 

area change since the 1967 survey at elevation 1,565.0. The 1967 study made a 

similar assumption where the surface areas from elevation 1,550.0 to 1,565.0 

were projected using the ACAP program that uses a straight line computation 

method. For the 2007 study, the projection was from elevation 1,559.0 to 1,565.0. 

Assuming no change at elevation 1,565.0 is probably not entirely accurate, but 

any loss due to sediment deposition above this elevation is not likely to be 

significant since the reservoir has never operated above elevation 1,562 and rarely 

operates above elevation 1,560. The 1967 range line plots did show that the 

lateral distribution of sediment at the lines located above the Granite Bridge has 

resulted in a significant build-up of sediment from elevation 1,550.0 and above. 

Figure 33 provides a 1998 aerial view of the sediment deposition above the 

causeway and upstream of the left bank at the Granite Bridge location. The photo 

shows the water pond behind the causeway and possible small channel flow 

between the pond and main water body of the reservoir via the bridge. The 

channel that connects the pond to the main reservoir area was observed during the 

2008 land survey. But at the time of the survey, it was dry. On the left side of the 

photo is the straightened river channel upstream of the bridge which bypasses the 

upper sediment delta that has developed upstream of the causeway. The original 

river channel alignment flowed from the east side of the reservoir to the west side 

and then along the north side of the causeway towards the bridge opening (Figure 

3). This new alignment of the river provides a more efficient water delivery route 

to the main reservoir, especially during low river flows. However, this alignment 

also allows more inflowing sediments to directly enter the main reservoir area 

below the bridge. The photo also shows sediment build-up downstream of the 

causeway where the sediment delta on the left bank is eroded and transported 

downstream towards the main body by inflows during periods of low reservoir 

levels. In its current condition, the only means to accurately measure this area is 

by a detailed above water aerial survey. The 2007 study surveys were hindered 

by the extensive vegetation that has developed since this 1998 photograph was 

taken.
Figure 33 - 1998 Aerial View of Altus Reservoir. 

During the planning phase for this reservoir, the original estimated 100 year 

sediment accumulation for Altus Reservoir was 57 percent or around 110,000 

acre-feet at maximum pool elevation 1,564.0. This computes to an average 

annual loss of 1,100 acre-feet. Table 1 lists the results of the 1948 and 1953 

surveys that measured an average annual loss between surveys of 1,070 and 1,133 

acre-feet respectfully. The 1967 survey measured a reduced average annual loss 

of 606 acre-feet since the 1953 survey. The 2007 survey measured an even lower 

average annual loss of 139 acre-feet since the 1967 survey. However, as noted 

earlier in this report, the 2007 aerial data included the shoreline coves that may 

have been projected as silted-in during the 1967 analysis. Consequently, data 

comparisons between the 1967 survey data and the 2007 survey data may be 

statistically invalid. Over the entire operation period from 1940 through 2007, 

the computed average annual loss was 417 acre-feet. The different survey and 

analysis methods between all the studies does not appear to be the main reason for 

the significant decrease in the calculated annual sediment inflow rate. Further 

analysis would be required to determine why such a significant drop occurred and 

why the 2007 study results since dam closure are only about one third of the 

original projection. 

The majority of the future inflowing sediments will enter and settle downstream 

of the Granite Bridge with the sediment delta growing towards the dam (Figure 

42
4). Future surveys will be needed to measure this growth and to better refine the 

average annual loss due to sediment. 

The results of the 2007 Altus Reservoir study provide up-to-date surface area and 

capacity information for the entire reservoir. The only feasible means to obtain 

detailed information for the upper contours, the area above the causeway, and just 

downstream of the Granite Bridge would be by aerial collection. It is the general 

consensus that this study had enough information to develop the current surface 

areas and resulting capacity as presented in this report. Aerial collection would 

provide more detailed data for full development, but the results should not greatly 

differ from the 2007 study from elevation 1,559 and below. In general, a large 

portion of the original available reservoir area upstream of the Granite Bridge has 

been lost due to sediment deposition. The 1967 study range lines showed this loss 

occurred during the first 26.4 years of reservoir operation. The 2007 study cross 

sections illustrate further sediment deposition in this portion of the reservoir, 

mainly at Range Line 14. Range Lines 14A and 15 measured insignificant change 

since 1967. Part of this is due to the realignment of the inflowing river where the 

water and sediment now flow directly into the main reservoir. However, some 

reservoir operations since 1967 occurred via the original river alignment before it 

changed in the early 1990’s. The 2007 survey did measure some sediment build 

up at Range Lines 9, 11, and 13, located downstream of the Granite Bridge. 

However, it was expected that the buildup would have been even greater and 

extended further downstream if the 1948 and 1967 annual sediment inflow rates 

had, in fact, continued to occur through 2007. 

Since the 1998 aerial photo was taken, significant tree growth has occurred both 

upstream and just downstream of the causeway during reservoir drawdown due to 

the drought of the early 2000’s. If these areas become clear of vegetation in the 

future due to tree die off during higher reservoir operations, similar to the Figure 

33 photograph, a winter survey should be planned by either aerial or land 

collection. To obtain good information on current annual sediment inflow, this 

data would need to be merged with a future underwater survey when the some of 

the same areas are covered by several feet of water for adequate data overlap. 

Either way, it is recommended that an additional sediment resurvey be conducted 

within the next 10-20 years utilizing at minimum the 2007 methodology or better 

to more accurately determine current sediment inflow rates. 

43
References 

American Society of Civil Engineers, 1962. Nomenclature for Hydraulics, ASCE 

Headquarters, New York. 

Bureau of Reclamation, 1981. Project Data, Denver Office, Denver CO. 

Bureau of Reclamation, 1985. Surface Water Branch, ACAP85 User's Manual, 

Technical Service Center, Denver CO. 

Bureau of Reclamation, 1987(a). Guide for Preparation of Standing Operating 

Procedures for Bureau of Reclamation Dams and Reservoirs, U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Denver, CO. 

Bureau of Reclamation, 1987(b). Design of Small Dams, U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Denver CO. 

Bureau of Reclamation July 1998. Standing Operating Procedures (SOP), Altus 

Dam and Reservoir, W.C. Austin Project, Oklahoma, GP Region, Billings, MT. 

Bureau of Reclamation, June 2007. Altus Reservoir Area and Capacity Tables, 

W.C. Austin Project, Great Plains Region, Billings, MT. 

Corps of Engineers, January 2002. Engineer and Design Hydrographic 

Surveying, EM 1110-2-1003, Department of the Army, Washington DC, 

(www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-manuals/em1110-2-1003/toc.htm). 

ESRI, 2006. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (www.esri.com) 

Ferrari, R.L. and Collins, K. (2006). Reservoir Survey and Data Analysis, 

Chapter 9, Erosion and Sedimentation Manual, Bureau of Reclamation, 

Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group. Denver, Colorado. 

www.usbr.gov/pmts/sediment 

Lara, J.M., 1971. The 1967 Altus Reservoir Sediment Survey, U.S. Bureau of 

Reclamation, Denver, Colorado. 

http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/sediment/projects/index.html

44