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Newt Graham Lock & Dam facts for kids
| Newt Graham Lock and Dam (#18) | |
|---|---|
Newt Graham Lock and Dam on the Verdigris River looking south. March 3, 1999. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library.
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| Coordinates | 36°03′32″N 95°32′15″W / 36.0588°N 95.5376°W |
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Construction began | 1967 |
| Opening date | 1970 |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Verdigris River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Newt Graham Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 24,260 acre-feet (29,920,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 1,490 acres (6,000,000 m2) |
| Normal elevation | 532 feet (162 m) |
The Newt Graham Lock & Dam is a special kind of water gate system. It helps boats travel safely along the Verdigris River. This dam is the very last one on the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. This system is like a big water highway for ships. The dam is about 24.8 miles (40 km) away from the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. This port is where the water highway ends.
Location and Construction
The Newt Graham Lock & Dam is located about 7 miles (11 km) south of Inola, Oklahoma.
- Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is 5 miles (8 km) to the west.
- Wagoner, Oklahoma is 25 miles (40 km) to the southeast.
- Pryor, Oklahoma is 25 miles (40 km) to the northeast.
Building the dam started in 1967. It was finished just three years later, in 1970. The whole project cost about $43.4 million.
Fun Activities at Newt Graham
Fishing and Hunting Adventures
The waters around Newt Graham Lock & Dam are full of fish! If you want to fish, make sure you have an Oklahoma fishing license. Some of the fish you might catch include largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages two places where you can launch your boat. They are called Bluff Landing and Highway 33 Landing.
- At Bluff Landing, you can go camping. There are 25 campsites with electricity and 7 without. You need to pay a small fee to camp or use the area for the day. These campsites are open all year.
- Highway 33 Landing is only for launching boats and day visits. You cannot camp here, but launching your boat is free.
If you enjoy hunting, the area around the dam is also a good spot. You must follow all the same hunting laws as elsewhere in Oklahoma. You also need the right licenses. Hunters often look for deer, dove, quail, squirrel, rabbit, and turkey here. You might also see different kinds of ducks and geese.