| Lake Wister | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of lake and Wister Dam | |
  Lake Wister  Lake Wister | |
| Location | Le Flore County,Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 34°56′13″N94°43′59″W / 34.93694°N 94.73306°W /34.93694; -94.73306 |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Poteau River,Fourche Maline creek |
| Catchment area | 993 sq mi (2,570 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 49,400 acre⋅ft (0.0609 km3) (conservation) 383,000 acre⋅ft (0.472 km3) (fullflood control) |
| Surface elevation | 478 ft (146 m) |
| Settlements | Wister, Oklahoma |
Lake Wister is areservoir inLe Flore County, in southeastOklahoma.[1] The lake is created by thePoteau River and theFourche Maline creek. Wister Lake was authorized for flood control and conservation by the Flood Control Act of 1938. The project was designed and built by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers. Construction began in April 1946, and the project was placed in full flood-control operation in December 1949.[2]
Lake Wister was authorized for flood control and conservation by the Flood Control Act of 1938. The project was designed and built by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers at a cost of $10.5 million. Construction began in April 1946, and the project was placed in full flood-control operation December 1949. It is now part ofLake Wister State Park. The lake is named for the nearby city ofWister, Oklahoma. Other nearby cities areHeavener andPoteau.[2]
The area around the lake has been inhabited for thousands of years. Numerous mounds in the area were created by prehistoric Native Americans. During territorial times, the area was located inSugar Loaf County, one of the counties making up theMoshulatubbee District in theChoctaw Nation.
The lake has a surface area of 7,300 acres (30 km2) and a shoreline of about 115 miles (185 km).[2] The normal elevation is 478 feet (146 m), minimum elevation is 450 feet (140 m) and the maximum is 503 feet (153 m). Design volume of water is 61,423 acre-feet (75,764,000 m3). It drains an area of 993 square miles (2,570 km2).[3]
