Foss Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foss Reservoir |
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 Foss Reservoir
Location in Oklahoma
Foss Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Custer County, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°34′05″N 99°13′19″W / 35.568°N 99.222°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Washita River |
| Primary outflows | Washita River |
| Catchment area | 1,496 square miles (3,870 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Built | October 1958 |
| First flooded | October 1962 |
| Max. length | 10.91 miles (17.56 km) |
| Max. width | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
| Surface area | 8,800 acres (3,600 ha) |
| Water volume | 256,220 acre⋅ft (316,040,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 63 mi (101 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,652 feet (504 m) |
| Islands | several islets |
| Settlements | Foss, Oklahoma; Clinton, Oklahoma |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Foss Reservoir, also called Foss Lake, is a large lake in Custer County, Oklahoma. It was created on the Washita River. The lake is about 15 miles (24 km) west of Clinton, Oklahoma.
The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation built the reservoir between 1958 and 1961. It was first known as the Washita Basin Project. The lake and its dam are named after the town of Foss, Oklahoma. This town is about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the lake.
Foss Reservoir helps control the flow of the Washita River. It also provides water for nearby cities like Bessie, Clinton, Cordell, and Hobart. It is the biggest lake in western Oklahoma. The entire lake is located within Foss State Park.
About Foss Reservoir
Foss Reservoir covers a large area of 8,800 acres (3,600 ha). Its shoreline stretches for 63 miles (101 km). The lake can hold about 436,812 acre-feet (538,800,000 m3) of water. Water flows into the reservoir from a large area of 1,496 square miles (3,870 km2). The lake is usually about 23 feet (7.0 m) deep. At its deepest point, it reaches 89 feet (27 m).
Foss Dam
Building the Foss Dam started in October 1958. The dam is 142 feet (43 m) tall. It is 38 feet (12 m) wide at the top and 18,130 feet (5,530 m) long. The dam helps manage the river's water and creates the reservoir.
Foss State Park
Foss State Park is a fun place that covers 1,749 acres (7,080,000 m2) of land. It has many things for visitors to enjoy.
- There are 8 campgrounds where you can stay.
- You can swim at the park's beach.
- There are 6 boat ramps for launching boats.
- Kids can play at the playground.
- The park also has a marina and a restaurant.
- If you like horses, there are 19 miles (31 km) of trails for riding. These trails can also be used for other activities.
Water Treatment at Foss Lake
The water in Foss Lake is naturally very hard. This means it has a lot of minerals in it. To make the water suitable for drinking, it needs special treatment.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built one of the first special water treatment plants in the United States here. This plant used a method called electrodialysis. In 2002, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality built a new, modern plant. This new plant can clean even more water, increasing production from 3 million to 4.5 million U.S. gallons per day.
After treatment, the water travels from the dam to homes and businesses. It moves through three pumping stations and 50.8 miles (81.8 km) of pipes called aqueducts.
