Optima Lake
Encyclopedia
Optima Lake is a reservoir
in Texas County, Oklahoma
. The lake is located near the towns of Hardesty
and Guymon
in the Oklahoma Panhandle
. The lake has never reached more than 5 percent of its design capacity, and now is effectively empty. Rapid declines in streamflow (related to large-scale pumping from the High Plains Aquifer) coincided with the completion of dam construction to make this lake a dramatic example of unanticipated environmental impacts.
The US Army Corps of Engineers states (emphasis added):
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 Texas County, Oklahoma
Texas County, Oklahoma
Texas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Texas County was formed at Oklahoma statehood from the central one-third of "Old Beaver County" also known as "No Man's Land"...
. The lake is located near the towns of Hardesty
Hardesty, Oklahoma
Hardesty is a town in Texas County, Oklahoma, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 212.-Geography:Hardesty is located at .According to the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
and Guymon
Guymon, Oklahoma
Guymon is a city in and the county seat of Texas County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,442, making it the largest city on the Oklahoma Panhandle. Corporate hog farms and cattle feedlots dominate its economy....
in the Oklahoma Panhandle
Oklahoma Panhandle
The Oklahoma Panhandle is the extreme western region of the state of Oklahoma, comprising Cimarron County, Texas County, and Beaver County. Its name comes from the similarity of shape to the handle of a cooking pan....
. The lake has never reached more than 5 percent of its design capacity, and now is effectively empty. Rapid declines in streamflow (related to large-scale pumping from the High Plains Aquifer) coincided with the completion of dam construction to make this lake a dramatic example of unanticipated environmental impacts.
The US Army Corps of Engineers states (emphasis added):
Visitors should be aware that the lake's level can be very low. Depending on rainfall and evaporation rates, the lake may offer no water-based recreation and may not be suitable for swimming, fishing, boating or other activities.
External links
- Oklahoma Water Resources Board Optima factsheet. The image on the first page shows the lake at its maximum level since dam construction
- 2006 Geological Society of America press release – Lessons to be learned from sites like Optima
- USGS online discharge data for inflow to reservoir (1937-1993)
- Optima Lake information on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma