Copan Dam facts for kids
Copan Dam is a large wall built across a river in Washington County, Oklahoma. This area is in the northeastern part of the state. The dam helps control floods and provides drinking water for nearby towns.
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Copan Dam: Building a Big Wall for Water
What is Copan Dam?
Copan Dam is an earthen dam. This means it is made mostly of packed earth and rock. The dam was built to hold back the Little Caney River. Its main jobs are to stop floods and to store water for people to drink.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers built Copan Dam. This is a special group that works on big projects like dams and waterways. Construction started in 1972 and finished in 1983. The Corps of Engineers still owns and runs the dam today.
How Big is the Dam?
Copan Dam is quite large! It stands about 73 feet (22 m) tall. That's like a seven-story building. The dam stretches for about 7,730 feet (2,360 m) across the land. That's more than a mile long!
Copan Lake: The Water It Holds
When the dam holds back the river, it creates a large body of water called Copan Lake. This lake covers about 7.6 square miles (20 km2) of land. That's a lot of water!
The lake can hold a huge amount of water. Its normal capacity is 43,400 acre-feet (53,500,000 m3). During heavy rains, it can hold even more. This helps prevent floods downstream.
Copan Wildlife Area: A Home for Animals
Around Copan Lake, there is a special place called the Copan Wildlife Area. This area is managed to protect nature and wildlife. It was leased to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in 1981.
The wildlife area is part of the bigger Copan Reservoir project. It covers about 2,360 acres (9,600,000 m2) of land. This makes it a great place for animals to live and for people to enjoy nature.
