Lake Hefner

Last updated
Lake Hefner
Sailing Lake Hefner.jpg
USA Oklahoma relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Lake Hefner
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Lake Hefner
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Coordinates 35°34′04″N97°35′45″W / 35.567820°N 97.595740°W / 35.567820; -97.595740
Lake type reservoir
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area 2,500 acres (1,000 ha)
Average depth29 ft (8.8 m)
Max. depth94 ft (29 m)
Water volume 75,000 acre⋅ft (93,000,000 m3)
SettlementsOklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lake Hefner is a reservoir in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was built in the 1940s to expand the water supply for the city of Oklahoma City, [1]

Contents

It is named after Robert A. Hefner, who served as mayor of Oklahoma City from April 11, 1939, to April 8, 1947, but was originally named the "Bluff Creek Reservoir." [2] It also serves as a major recreational destination, as it is surrounded by 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of multi-use (bicycle, skating and pedestrian) trails. Stanley Draper was influential in securing the funding to develop the lake. [3]

Description

Lake Hefner March 2020 Lake Hefner March 2020.jpg
Lake Hefner March 2020

The capacity of the lake is 75,000 acre-feet. [4] Lake Hefner covers 2,500 acres (10 km2) and averages 29 feet (8.8 m) deep. The lake's outflow goes into Bluff Creek which travels north to meet up with Deer Creek, which then flows into the Cimarron River near Guthrie.

The lake is situated within the Oklahoma City urban area and is subsequently closely bordered by residential areas to the north, west, and east. The Lake Hefner Dam is located along the entire northern side of the lake (with Bluff Creek Park being located below the dam, on the other side of Hefner boulevard). Lake Hefner Parkway borders the east side of the lake, with some commercial development (including restaurants, bars and office buildings) located alongside the lake, as well as a 36-foot tall working replica of the second oldest lighthouse in the United States, the Brant Point Light near Nantucket, Massachusetts. [5] The south side of the lake is the least developed, retaining the original forest along much of the shore. Lake Hefner Golf Course is located on the southwest corner of the lake. Immediately south of this are the Oklahoma City docks, commonly known as the city-side docks, the largest marina on the lake. The other marina on Lake Hefner is the Oklahoma City Boat Club (OCBC), a private organization that holds weekly sailboat races during the summer and is located on the east side. Just north of the OCBC is the East Wharf area, which contains several fairly upscale restaurants. On the south side of the lake is the Hobie Point, a YMCA sailing school, and Stars and Stripes Park. Stars and Stripes Park also has new additions of a Fitness court and a Skatepark. The Oklahoma Radio Kontrol Society (TORKS) has maintained a Radio Control air field since the early 1970s.

Recreation

The lighthouse at Lake Hefner during a drought The lighthouse at Lake Hefner during a drought.jpg
The lighthouse at Lake Hefner during a drought

Hefner is also a popular recreational fishing spot for Oklahoma City residents, and is populated with a variety of gamefish species including largemouth & smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, as well as white bass and hybrid striped bass.

Additionally, Hefner is a popular site for recreational boating, both with sailboats and motorized pleasure craft. Kiteboarding is also very popular on Hefner due to the excellent wind they receive all summer. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Bird Lake</span> Reservoir in Austin, Texas, US

Lady Bird Lake is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas, United States. The City of Austin created the reservoir in 1960 as a cooling pond for a new city power plant. The lake, which has a surface area of 416 acres (168 ha), is now used primarily for recreation and flood control. The reservoir is named in honor of former First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Overholser</span> Dam in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lake Overholser is a reservoir within the city limits of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lake Overholser is formed by Overholser Dam on the North Canadian River in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The lake is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) west of Bethany and 4.4 mi (7.1 km) from Yukon. Lake Overholser is named after Ed Overholser who was the 16th Mayor of the City of Oklahoma City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone Lake</span> Dam in Oklahoma Pawnee / Osage / Creek / Tulsa counties, Oklahoma

Keystone Lake is a reservoir in northeastern Oklahoma on the Arkansas and Cimarron rivers. It is located upstream about 23 miles (37 km) from Tulsa. It was created in 1968 when the Keystone Dam was completed. The primary purposes are: flood control, hydroelectric power generation, wildlife management and recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Eufaula (Oklahoma)</span> Reservoir in Oklahoma, US

Lake Eufaula, sometimes referred to as Eufaula Lake, is a reservoir in Oklahoma. It is located on the Canadian River, 27 mi (43 km) upstream from its confluence with the Arkansas River and near the town of Eufaula. The lake covers parts of McIntosh County, Pittsburg, Haskell and Okmulgee counties and drains 47,522 square miles (123,080 km2). Water sources include the Canadian, North Fork Canadian and Deep Fork rivers. It is the largest-capacity lake in the state of Oklahoma with a volume of 2,099,000 acre-feet (2.589×109 m3), a surface area of 102,000 acres (410 km2) and 600 miles (970 km) of shoreline.

Lake Stanley Draper is a reservoir in southeast Oklahoma City, United States. It is one of three municipal reservoirs in the city. Principal construction on the reservoir occurred between 1962-1963. Upon completion it was named after the long-time director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Stanley Draper. Located between Midwest Boulevard and Post Road, near I-240, it receives water by pipeline from Atoka Lake and McGee Creek Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curecanti National Recreation Area</span> National Park Service in Colorado, US

Curecanti National Recreation Area is a National Park Service unit located on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Established in 1965, Curecanti National Recreation Area is responsible for developing and managing recreational facilities on three reservoirs, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir and Crystal Reservoir, constructed on the upper Gunnison River in the 1960s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to better utilize the vital waters of the Colorado River and its major tributaries. A popular destination for boating and fishing, Curecanti offers visitors two marinas, traditional and group campgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches, and boat-in campsites. The state's premiere lake trout and Kokanee salmon fisheries, Curecanti is a popular destination for boating and fishing, and is also a popular area for ice-fishing in the winter months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arcadia Lake (Oklahoma)</span> A lake in Oklahoma, U.S.

Arcadia Lake is a reservoir in Central Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States. The lake is located northeast of Oklahoma City in eastern Edmond, just east of Interstate 35.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cave Run Lake</span> Man-made lake in Kentucky, United States

Cave Run Lake, located south of Morehead, Kentucky, USA along Kentucky Route 801, is an 8,270-acre (33 km2) reservoir built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 148 feet (45 m), half-mile dam construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1973. Cave Run Lake is in the northern part of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Cave Run Lake provides flood protection to the lower Licking River valley, supplies water to the area's communities, improves the Licking River's water flow conditions, and offers a habitat for various species of fish and wildlife. It is in Rowan, Morgan, Menifee, and Bath counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skiatook Lake</span>

Skiatook Lake is a federally-owned and operated reservoir 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 on Hominy Creek, 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the confluence of Hominy and Bird Creeks. The project purposes include flood control, water quality, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. The cities of Skiatook, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, and Tulsa use Skiatook Lake as a municipal water supply. Gentle rolling hills of Blackjack and Post Oak interspersed with Tallgrass prairie surround the lake. The lake is under the management of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foster Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Oregon, United States

Foster Reservoir is a reservoir created by Foster Dam on the South Santiam River in the city of Foster, Oregon, United States. The reservoir is approximately 5.6 km (3.5 mi) long and covers approximately 494 ha when full. Primary use of the reservoir is recreation in the summer and flood control in the winter and spring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis and Clark Lake</span> Man-made lake in Nebraska and South Dakota, United States

Lewis and Clark Lake is a 31,400 acre (130 km²) reservoir located on the border of the U.S. states of Nebraska and South Dakota on the Missouri River. The lake is approximately 25 miles (40 km) in length with over 90 miles (140 km) of shoreline and a maximum water depth of 45 feet (14 m). The lake is impounded by Gavins Point Dam and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurora Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora Reservoir is a 31,650 acre-foot (39,040,000 m3) reservoir located in the far southeastern reach of Aurora, Colorado. Senac Creek and other minor streams flow into the reservoir's three coves, Senac, Marina and Lone Tree, each pointing to the south. The reservoir provides drinking water to the City of Aurora and is also a recreation area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Lafayette</span> Lake in Leon County, Florida, US

Lake Lafayette is a prairie lake located in the coastal lowland in eastern Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida with US 27 / State Road 20 running close on its south side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry Lake (Kansas)</span> Reservoir in Jefferson County, Kansas

Perry Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers operated reservoir in northeast Kansas. Its primary purposes are flood control, water reserve for nearby areas and regional recreation. The lake is approximately 11,150 acres (45 km2) in size, with over 160 miles (260 km) of shoreline. Perry Lake's full multi-purpose pool elevation is 891.5 feet (271.7 m) above sea level. Perry Lake is located about 40 miles (64 km) west of Kansas City, just northwest of Lawrence, Kansas. Its close proximity to Kansas City, Lawrence, and the state capitol, Topeka, make it a very popular destination, with the nickname "Paradise on the Plains".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Natoma</span> Reservoir in Sacramento County, California

Lake Natoma is a small lake in the Western United States, along the lower American River, between Folsom and Nimbus Dams in Sacramento County, California. The lake is located within the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area which maintains the facilities and bike trails surrounding the lake. Lake Natoma is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Sacramento, and has 500 surface acres of water. The total length of lake Natoma is 4 miles (6.4 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oologah Lake</span> Reservoir in Oklahoma, United States

Lake Oologah is a reservoir in northeastern Oklahoma. It is located near the towns of Oologah, Nowata, and Claremore. The lake has a surface of 29,500 acres (119 km2) of water and 209 miles (336 km) of shoreline with 11 lake-side parks. The water storage capacity is rated as 552,210 acre-feet (681,140,000 m3). The lake is formed along the Verdigris River, and is a source of water for the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. The purpose of the dam and lake is flood control, water supply, navigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife.

Foss State Park is a 1,749-acre (708 ha) Oklahoma state park located on Foss Lake, in southwestern Custer County, Oklahoma, near the city of Foss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area (Nebraska)</span> Recreation area in Nebraska, United States

Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area (SRA) is an 864-acre (350 ha) State Recreation Area located on the southern shore of Lewis and Clark Lake, in northeastern Nebraska. The recreation area is located in Knox County, approximately 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Crofton. The recreation area is managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deer Creek (Oklahoma)</span> Tributary of the Cottonwood Creek in Central Oklahoma

Deer Creek is a stream that flows from rural Canadian County through portions of Oklahoma County and Logan County. It joins with Cottonwood Creek in rural Logan County near the community of Seward, Oklahoma. Cottonwood Creek continues on to join with the Cimarron River near Guthrie, Oklahoma. Like Cottonwood Creek, portions of Deer Creek are prone to flooding.

References

  1. Lake Hefner, OKC The City of Oklahoma City Accessed August 28, 2015.
  2. Donnelly, Claire "How curious: Is Lake Hefner in the wrong place?" KGOU.org (Nov. 12, 2018) Accessed Oct. 26, 2021.
  3. "Draper, Stanley Carlisle | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  4. Brad Sowder (19 February 2015). "Lake Hefner water levels take a plunge". KOCO. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  5. According to a sign located at the lighthouse.
  6. "Hefner | Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation". www.wildlifedepartment.com. Retrieved 2024-06-09.