Oologah Lake
Encyclopedia
Lake Oologah is a reservoir
in northeastern Oklahoma. It is located near the towns of Oologah
, Nowata
, and Claremore
. The lake has a surface of 29500 acres (119 km²) of water and
209 miles (336 km) of shoreline with 11 lake-side parks. The water storage capacity is rated as 552210 acre.ft. The lake is formed along the Verdigris River
, and is a source of water for the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. The purpose of the dam and lake is flood control, water supply, navigation
, recreation, and fish and wildlife.
and construction began in 1950. In 1951, construction was halted and resumed in 1955. In 1963, the majority of the project was complete and all facilities were in 1974. In 1976, the City of Tulsa built a pipeline connecting Oologah to the Lynn Lake Reservoir in Tulsa.City of Tulsa - Water Supply Lakes - Oologah. Raw water supplied by this system is treated by the A. B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1974 with a design capacity of 90000000 USgal/d. The Jewell plant capacity has since been expanded to 120000000 USgal/d.
The Oologah Dam is located at 36°25′19"N 95°40′49"W and is an earth-fill embankment type
. It's maximum height is 137 ft (42 m) above the river bed and the embankment is 4000 ft (1,219 m) long. The dam's spillway
is located 2 mi (3 km) to the east and is composed of seven radial gates.
Recreation opportunities include a swimming beach, mountain biking, an ATV area, marina, RV and tent camping, picnic tables and a playground. On the east side of the lake, the Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail winds around the shore from the Spillway to Blue Creek Park totalling 18 miles.
Famous American actor, philosopher, cowboy and writer, Will Rogers
, was born on the Dog Iron Ranch
which now sits on the shores of Oologah Lake since the basin was dammed and flooded.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in northeastern Oklahoma. It is located near the towns of Oologah
Oologah, Oklahoma
Oologah is a town in Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. Renowned humorist Will Rogers was born on a ranch two miles east of Oologah, though he usually claimed Claremore as his birthplace, "because nobody but an Indian can pronounce 'Oologah.'"...
, Nowata
Nowata, Oklahoma
Nowata is a city in Nowata County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,731 at the United States Census, 2010, a 6.0 percent decline from 3,971 at the 2000 census...
, and Claremore
Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore is a city and the county seat of Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 18,581 at the 2010 census, a 17.1 percent increase from 15,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and home to Rogers State University...
. The lake has a surface of 29500 acres (119 km²) of water and
209 miles (336 km) of shoreline with 11 lake-side parks. The water storage capacity is rated as 552210 acre.ft. The lake is formed along the Verdigris River
Verdigris River
The Verdigris River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. It is about long...
, and is a source of water for the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. The purpose of the dam and lake is flood control, water supply, navigation
Navigability
A body of water, such as a river, canal or lake, is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass. Preferably there are few obstructions such as rocks or trees to avoid. Bridges must have sufficient clearance. High water speed may make a channel unnavigable. Waters may be...
, recreation, and fish and wildlife.
Background
The dam and lake were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who still administer it. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938Flood Control Act of 1938
The Flood Control Act of 1938 was an Act of the United States Congress signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that authorized civil engineering projects such as dams, levees, dikes, and other flood control measures through the United States Army Corps of Engineers and other Federal...
and construction began in 1950. In 1951, construction was halted and resumed in 1955. In 1963, the majority of the project was complete and all facilities were in 1974. In 1976, the City of Tulsa built a pipeline connecting Oologah to the Lynn Lake Reservoir in Tulsa.City of Tulsa - Water Supply Lakes - Oologah. Raw water supplied by this system is treated by the A. B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1974 with a design capacity of 90000000 USgal/d. The Jewell plant capacity has since been expanded to 120000000 USgal/d.
The Oologah Dam is located at 36°25′19"N 95°40′49"W and is an earth-fill embankment type
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
. It's maximum height is 137 ft (42 m) above the river bed and the embankment is 4000 ft (1,219 m) long. The dam's spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
is located 2 mi (3 km) to the east and is composed of seven radial gates.
Recreation opportunities include a swimming beach, mountain biking, an ATV area, marina, RV and tent camping, picnic tables and a playground. On the east side of the lake, the Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail winds around the shore from the Spillway to Blue Creek Park totalling 18 miles.
Famous American actor, philosopher, cowboy and writer, Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
, was born on the Dog Iron Ranch
Dog Iron Ranch
The Dog Iron Ranch, located about two miles east of Oologah, Oklahoma, United States, is the historic ranch of humorist Will Rogers. The ranch was donated to the state of Oklahoma by the Rogers family...
which now sits on the shores of Oologah Lake since the basin was dammed and flooded.
External links
- Ooglogah Lake Official U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Site
- Oologah Lake information, photos and video on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma