Skiatook Lake

Skiatook Lake
Location Osage County, Oklahoma
Coordinates 36°21′05″N 096°05′31″W / 36.35139°N 96.09194°W / 36.35139; -96.09194Coordinates: 36°21′05″N 096°05′31″W / 36.35139°N 96.09194°W / 36.35139; -96.09194
Basin countries United States
Surface area 10,500 acres (4,200 ha)
Surface elevation 714.0 ft (217.6 m)

Skiatook Lake is located in Osage County, Oklahoma, 4 miles (6.4 km) west of the town of Skiatook, 11 miles (18 km) east of Hominy, Oklahoma and about 18 miles (29 km) from Tulsa. The Skiatook Dam is located 14 miles upstream of the confluence of Hominy and Bird Creeks. Gentle rolling hills of Blackjack and Post Oak interspersed with Tallgrass prairie surround the lake.

History

Skiatook Dam and Lake were authorized for construction by the Flood Control Act approved October 23, 1962 (87th Congress).[1] It is one of five projects in the Bird Creek Basin plan recommended to meet the comprehensive water resources needs of the area. The damsite is located on Hominy Creek about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Skiatook in Osage County, Oklahoma. It is 14.3 miles (23.0 km) above the junction of Hominy Creek and Bird Creek.The project serves the purposes of flood control, water quality, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. The total cost of the project was approximately $120 million. Land acquisition started in 1973. Construction began in May 1977 and was completed in 1984.[2] Today, Skiatook, Sand Springs, Tulsa and Sapulpa use Skiatook Lake as a municipal water supply.

Size

At elevation 714 feet (218 m) above sea level, the lake has a flat surface area of about 10,190 acres (42 km²) and 160 miles (260 km) of shoreline.[1] At normal levels the lake contains 322,700 acre feet (398,000,000 m3) of water. Skiatook Lake is the fifteenth largest lake in Oklahoma in surface area and the eleventh largest in acre-feet.[3] (See List of lakes in Oklahoma)

Recreation and Camping

The shoreline is accentuated by steep bluffs. Boating, hiking, swimming, camping, picnicking as well as hunting and fishing are all popular activities at the lake.

Sport fishing is very popular and Skiatook Lake has several annual fishing tournaments. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, and several species of sunfish, or lake perch, are plentiful in Skiatook Lake.

White-tail deer, rabbit, squirrel, quail, and many more bird species are plentiful around the lake. Even a few coyote have been seen. During the seasons, about 8,000 acres (32 km²) of this land are open for hunting.

There are several places open to camping, including Tall Chief Cove, Bull Creek and Twin Points campgrounds. Other parks on the lake include Blackdog Park, Osage Park, Quapaw Park, Hominy Landing and Skiatook Point.

About 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) of land around the lake have been set aside for public use areas. These areas provide roads, parking spaces, boat ramps, nature trails, picnicking and camping sites along with sanitary facilities.[4]

John Zink Boy Scout camp is located along the southern shores of Skiatook Lake.

Events

There are several annual events held on Skiatook Lake, including many fishing tournaments. In July, the annual "Fantasy in the Sky" celebration is held at the airport (was at Tall Chief Cove), attracting around 35,000 people from all over Oklahoma. It features live concerts and fireworks at dusk, set to music. The Skiatook Chamber of Commerce also sponsors many events on the lake.

CrossTimbers Resort and the National Federal Demonstration Lakes Program

Skiatook Lake was selected to participate in the National Federal Demonstration Lakes program. The Corps of Engineers encouraged recreational development by non-federal partners and worked to expedite the lease process. The Skiatook Lakes Demonstration project is part of the Corps of Engineers' response to President Clinton's blue-ribbon panel appointed in 1998 to conduct the national recreation study.

The district recommended Skiatook Lake for inclusion in the national demonstration program because of its undeveloped recreation potential. Through the program, the district could move forward to identify sponsors who would be willing to make the financial investments necessary to bring new and improved recreation opportunities to the lake.

CrossTimbers Resort is what has emerged, and is currently being developed. This themed mixed-use attraction occupies 700 acres (2.8 km²), including 5 miles (8 km) of waterfront on Skiatook Lake.

CrossTimbers will combine shopping, dining, boating, entertainment, cottage, and conference center facilities on one site.

References

  1. 1 2 Lakelubbers. "Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma, USA."
  2. ↑ "Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma." Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Fishing Guide. Lake Skiatook. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/Locations/TulsaDistrictLakes/Oklahoma/SkiatookLake/SkiatookLakeRecreation.aspx
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