Webbers Falls Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Webbers Falls Lake |
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 Webbers Falls Lake
Location in Oklahoma
Webbers Falls Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°36′N 95°15′W / 35.60°N 95.25°W |
| Type | Reservoir, Lock |
| Primary inflows | Arkansas River |
| Primary outflows | Arkansas River |
| Managing agency | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Built | January 1965 |
| First flooded | December 1970 |
| Surface area | 11,600 acres (4,700 ha) |
| Average depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Water volume | 170,106 acre⋅ft (0.209823 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 157 mi (253 km) |
| Surface elevation | 490 ft (150 m) |
| Settlements | Webbers Falls, Oklahoma |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Webbers Falls Lake is a large lake in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. It is also known as Webbers Falls Reservoir. This lake was made by building a lock and dam on the Arkansas River.
The lake is an important part of a big water highway called the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. This system helps boats and barges travel along the river. The lake and its dam are Lock and Dam No. 16 in this system.
About Webbers Falls Lake
Webbers Falls Lake is located in Oklahoma. Its normal water level is about 490 feet (150 m) above sea level. The lake has a shoreline that stretches for about 157 miles (253 km). Its surface area covers about 11,600 acres (47,000,000 m2) of water.
The lake is fed by a huge area of land, called a drainage area, which is about 97,033 square miles (251,310 km2) big. This means a lot of water flows into the lake from many places.
Building the Lake and Dam
The idea for Webbers Falls Lake and Dam was first approved by the United States Congress in 1946. More plans were added in 1948 and 1950. Construction of the dam and lake began in January 1965.
By December 1970, the lake and its lock system were ready for boats to use. The entire McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which includes this lake, was finished in 1971.
Visiting the Lake and Dam
The lock and dam are located about 3 miles (4.8 km) away from the town of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. If you visit, there's a special viewing area. From this platform, you can watch how the locks work. You can see boats and barges move through the water as the locks raise or lower them.
