Crowder Lake University Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crowder Lake University Park |
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 Crowder Lake University Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Washita County, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°23′49″N 98°42′18″W / 35.397°N 98.705°W |
| Type | reservoir |
Crowder Lake University Park is a cool lake in Washita County, Oklahoma. It's about 8 miles (13 km) south of Weatherford. The park covers 22 acres (8.9 ha) and sits on the 158 acres (64 ha) Crowder Lake.
This park used to be a state park. But since 2003, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has owned and managed it.
Contents
Discovering Crowder Lake's Past
How the Lake Was Built
Crowder Lake wasn't always called that. It was first known as Cobb Creek Site 1. It was built in 1958 to help control floods. The Deer Creek Conservation District, along with other groups, helped create it.
The main goal was to protect farms and rural areas from too much water. The dam was first designed as a "low hazard" dam. This meant it wasn't expected to cause big problems if it failed.
Upgrading the Dam for Safety
Over time, more buildings and homes were built downstream from the dam. Because of this, the dam was reclassified as "high hazard" in 2006. This meant it was very important to make sure it was super safe.
So, the dam was updated and made stronger. This work helped it meet modern safety rules. It also made sure the dam could last for another 100 years. They made the dam taller, replaced the main spillway, and made the auxiliary spillway wider.
Dealing with Floods Before the Lake
Before the lake and dam were built, the area often flooded. Between 1923 and 1942, there were 13 big floods. These floods covered more than half of the flat land near the creek. There were also 67 smaller floods during that time.
The Park's Journey: From State Park to University Park
In 1983, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department created a state park around the lake. They named it Crowder Lake State Park.
Later, in 1997, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) started helping to manage the park. Then, in 2003, the state officially gave the lake to SWOSU. That's when it became known as Crowder Lake University Park.
