Carl Blackwell Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Carl Blackwell |
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 Lake Carl Blackwell
Location in Oklahoma
Lake Carl Blackwell
Location in the United States
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| Location | Payne County, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 36°08′02″N 97°13′26″W / 36.134°N 97.224°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Etymology | Carl Petty Blackwell, Sr. (1886-1937) |
| Primary inflows | Stillwater Creek |
| Primary outflows | Stillwater Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Built | 1937 |
| Surface area | 3,370 acres (13,600,000 m2) |
| Max. depth | 45.9 feet (14.0 m) |
| Water volume | 61,500 acre-feet (75,900,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 59.2 miles (95.3 km) |
| Surface elevation | 944 feet (288 m) |
| Settlements | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Carl Blackwell, also known as Carl Blackwell Lake, is a fun place located about 8 miles (13 km) west of Stillwater, Oklahoma. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities. The lake is almost exactly halfway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. It was built in 1937 and is owned and managed by Oklahoma State University (OSU).
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Who Was Carl Blackwell?
The lake is named after Carl Petty Blackwell, Sr. (1886-1937). He was an important person at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. This college is now known as Oklahoma State University (OSU). Mr. Blackwell worked as the dean of agriculture. He also directed the experimental station at the college.
About the Lake
Lake Carl Blackwell is quite large! It covers about 3,370 acres (13.6 km²). The lake can hold a lot of water, around 61,500 acre-feet (75.8 million m³). Its shoreline stretches for about 59.2 miles (95.3 km). The lake's surface is usually about 944 feet (288 m) above sea level. At its deepest point, the lake goes down about 45.9 feet (14 m).
Fun at the Lake
Right next to the lake is a big recreation area. It is about 800 acres (3.2 km²) in size. Oklahoma State University also owns and manages this area. There are lots of cool things to do here! You can go camping, ride horses on special trails, or explore mountain bike trails. It's also great for boating, hiking, and fishing. Some people even go duck hunting or have picnics here.
New Shooting Center
A new shooting center was approved by OSU in 2017. This center will be a place for people to practice shooting. It will also offer training and hunter safety programs. The center will be open to the public.
What the Center Includes
The center will use about 358 acres (1.4 km²) of the recreation area. It will have different areas for shooting. These include an archery range and two rifle ranges. There will also be a pistol range. For clay target shooting, it will have a sporting clay course, skeet fields, and trap fields. The center will also have parking and restrooms.
Future Plans
Future plans for the center include adding a conservation center. There will also be a nature trail. More sporting clay courses are planned. There will be areas for 3-D archery and a pavilion with restrooms.
Concerns About the Center
Some people had concerns about the new shooting center. These concerns mainly came from a group of people who ride horses at the lake. They had spent a lot of time and money building riding trails. These trails will be removed because of the new facility. The group said they built about 50 miles (80 km) of riding trails. They also built a campground, picnic tables, and hitching posts.
Dealing with Invasive Plants
In June 2019, Oklahoma State University announced a plan. They started treating Lake Carl Blackwell with a special liquid. This liquid is called "ProcellaCOR SC." It helps control a type of lily called "Yellow Floating Heart" (YFH).
Why Treat the Lake?
Yellow Floating Heart is not native to the lake. It grows very fast and can take over. It forms thick mats on the water's surface. These mats can harm the lake's natural plants and animals. Trying to remove it by hand didn't work. Each small piece that broke off could start a new plant.
How the Treatment Works
The liquid used is a special herbicide. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says it's a low-risk chemical. OSU planned to test the water daily. They would also test for three days after the treatment. During the treatment, OSU switched to using water from the City of Stillwater. They would switch back to lake water after tests showed no chemicals were left. Yellow Floating Heart has been banned in several states. These include Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
