Lake Altus-Lugert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Altus-Lugert |
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Lake Altus-Lugert, looking east
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 Lake Altus-Lugert
Location in Oklahoma
Lake Altus-Lugert
Location in the United States
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| Location | Greer / Kiowa counties, Oklahoma, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°55′30″N 99°18′08″W / 34.9251°N 99.3023°W |
| Primary inflows | North Fork Red River |
| Primary outflows | North Fork Red River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 6,260 acres (25.3 km2) |
| Average depth | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 71 ft (22 m) |
| Water volume | 132,830 acre⋅ft (163,840,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 49 mi (79 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,547 ft (472 m) |
| Settlements | Altus, Oklahoma |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Altus-Lugert is a large lake in Oklahoma, also known as Lake Altus or Lake Lugert. It's a reservoir, which means it's a man-made lake built to store water. You can find it about 17 miles (27 km) north of Altus, Oklahoma. The lake sits on the North Fork Red River, right where Greer County and Kiowa County, Oklahoma meet. People love coming here for fishing, boating, and swimming. It's also super important because it provides water for farming and for the city of Altus.
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History of Lake Altus-Lugert
Lake Altus-Lugert was built over the old town of Lugert. This town was founded in 1902. Sadly, a big tornado destroyed it on April 27, 1912.
If the lake water levels are low, you can sometimes see the old foundations of houses. These are from the town that used to be there. The town was hit by several tornadoes. After the last one, the people decided to leave. They abandoned the whole town.
Building the Lake
The city of Altus, Oklahoma first built Altus Dam in 1927. This was to create a water supply for the city. Later, the U.S. Government decided to build a much larger lake. This bigger lake would provide water for farmers.
Construction on the larger dam started in 1941. It was paused during World War II. Work began again in 1944. The dam we see today was finished in 1947.
The lake is a key part of the W.C. Austin Project. This project helps water about 48,000 acres (190 km²) of farmland. It uses a large system of canals to deliver water to farms. Most of these canals were finished by 1953.
Drought and Recovery
From 2007 to 2015, the lake experienced a long, 8-year drought. This meant the water level dropped very low. But in the spring of 2015, heavy storms brought a lot of rain.
The lake refilled completely. The Altus Dam flood gates even had to be opened to release extra water. This helped the lake return to its normal size.
Altus Dam Details
Altus Dam is a strong structure made of concrete and granite. It stands 110 feet (34 m) tall. The dam is 1,104 feet (336 m) long.
The dam has special sections to let water out. These include spillways and an irrigation outlet. The irrigation outlet sends water into the canals for farming.
The lake can hold a lot of water. Some of this water is for flood control. A big part is for conservation, meaning it's stored for use. About 10,000 acre-feet of water is saved just for the city of Altus, Oklahoma.
There are also four dikes around the lake. These are like small dams in low areas. Lugert Dike is the largest, at 4,245 feet (1,294 m) long.
Fun Activities at Lake Altus
Lake Altus is located in the beautiful Quartz Mountains. It offers many fun things to do all year round. The northern part of the lake area is managed for wildlife. This helps protect animals and their homes.
Water Sports and Fishing
You can enjoy many activities on the water. These include water skiing, jet skiing, and swimming. Fishing is also very popular here.
Some of the fish you might catch are:
- Black bass
- Catfish
- Crappie
- Hybrid bass
- Sand bass
- Walleye
- White bass
Lake Altus holds the record for the largest walleye and hybrid bass ever caught in Oklahoma!
Quartz Mountain Nature Park
The Quartz Mountain Nature Park is right next to the lake. It has many public facilities for visitors. You can find an 18-hole golf course and places to stay.
The park also offers:
- Organized group camps
- Spaces for RVs and tents
- Two swimming beaches
- Boat launching ramps
- Picnic areas with shelters
- Restrooms and hiking trails
It's a great place for fishing, hunting, picnicking, and sightseeing. You can also enjoy many water sports.
Quartz Mountain Resort, Arts & Conference Center
The first Quartz Mountain Lodge was built in 1955. It was on the west side of Lake Altus. Sadly, a fire destroyed most of it in 1995. The new lodge was finished in 2001.
The Quartz Mountain Resort has 118 rooms and 11 cabins. It also has a performance center and an outdoor amphitheater. The rooms are decorated with western, Native American, and southwestern art.
The lodge displays a large collection of art. This art is made by professional artists. It also includes art by talented students. These students attend the Quartz Mountain Arts Institute each summer.
Lake Altus-Lugert Fish Recovery
In 2013, biologists found that the lake had almost no fish. A type of harmful golden algae had killed many fish. They estimated over 350,000 fish died.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation started restocking the lake. They first added small fish like shad and sunfish. These fish would be food for bigger fish.
Later, they added popular fish like largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, and channel catfish. In 2015, there was another algae bloom. This caused more fish to die.
However, the heavy rains in May 2015 helped the lake. The water refilled and became less salty. By 2017, the lake's fish population had recovered well. Lake Altus-Lugert is now a popular fishing spot again in southwestern Oklahoma.
Images for kids
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Lake Altus-Lugert, looking east
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Lake Altus-Lugert, looking south
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Foundations from the town of Lugert at the bottom of Lake Altus-Lugert
