Tenkiller Ferry Lake, or more simply, "Lake Tenkiller," is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River. The earth-fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. It went into full operation in 1953.[1] The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family, prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project.[2] This is 6th largest lake in Oklahoma, based on water capacity.[a]
The lake covers 12,900 acres (52 km²) and has a shoreline of over 130 miles (210 km) in the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains of Cherokee and Sequoyah counties, about seven miles (11 km) northeast of the town of Gore and 10 miles (16 km) from the intersection of I-40 and the Muskogee Turnpike.
The distance from major cities include: 150 miles (240 km) east of Oklahoma City, 50 miles (80 km) west of Fort Smith, Arkansas, 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Tulsa and 30 miles (48 km) from Muskogee.[1]
One of the townships bordering this lake is Paradise Hill, at the far southwestern edge of the lake. It is known for its violent drop-offs, some going from a grown man's waist level to over his head. This is the cause of many deaths in the lake.[1]
Electric power generation
The hydroelectric power station is remotely controlled from the control center at Fort Gibson Lake. Two generators, each rated for 17 megawatts, provide a total capacity of 34 megawatts (MWe). The facility can handle 40 MWe for a short period of time. However, the amount of power that can actually be generated depends heavily on the lake elevation at any given time.[1]
Water supply
Originally, the amount of water delivered by the project was considered incidental, although the quality of water was much higher than that of the Arkansas River (the closest alternative source). Much of this water was expected to be used by the Kerr-McGee Nuclear Fuel Plant. That plant closed in 1975. The cities of Muskogee and Sallisaw are now major consumers.[1]
Recreation
Attractions near the lake include scuba diving, camping, hiking, fishing, golfing, water sports, scenic nature, fishing, and hunting. In addition there are eight miles (13 km) of trout fishing along the Illinois River. There are also ten marinas, fourteen parks, 24 boat launching ramps, five floating restaurants, and many islands including Goat Island which is famous for the goats that inhabit it.[3] Scuba divers can even see the ruins of old communities that were flooded by the lake, such as the original town of Cookson.
Other than the goats, many other animals inhabit the area including Canada geese, white tail deer, ducks, monarch butterflies, warblers, otters, mink, beaver, bear, mountain lion, wild hogs, wild turkey and bald eagles.
Tenkiller State Park, Cherokee Landing State Park, and several Corps parks are among the parks bordering the lake.
Wildlife Management Area
The Tenkiller Wildlife Management Area consists of 2,950 acres (11,900,000 m2) on the southwest shoreline of the lake, a mixture of upland and riparian habitat. The upland portion is covered with oak and hickory. The riparian portion contains mostly willow, sycamore, hackberry, elm, ash and birch.[4]
tenkiller, ferry, lake, more, simply, lake, tenkiller, reservoir, eastern, oklahoma, formed, damming, illinois, river, earth, fill, constructed, between, 1947, 1952, united, states, army, corps, engineers, purposes, flood, control, hydroelectric, power, genera. Tenkiller Ferry Lake or more simply Lake Tenkiller is a reservoir in eastern Oklahoma formed by the damming of the Illinois River The earth fill dam was constructed between 1947 and 1952 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for purposes of flood control hydroelectric power generation water supply and recreation It went into full operation in 1953 1 The lake and dam were named for the Tenkiller family prominent Cherokees who owned the land and ferry that were bought for the project 2 This is 6th largest lake in Oklahoma based on water capacity a Tenkiller Ferry LakeTenkiller Ferry Lake and DamTenkiller Ferry LakeShow map of OklahomaTenkiller Ferry LakeShow map of the United StatesLocationCherokee Sequoyah counties Oklahoma USCoordinates35 39 29 N 94 59 31 W 35 65806 N 94 99194 W 35 65806 94 99194 Coordinates 35 39 29 N 94 59 31 W 35 65806 N 94 99194 W 35 65806 94 99194Lake typereservoirPrimary inflowsIllinois RiverPrimary outflowsIllinois RiverCatchment area1 610 square miles 4 170 km2 Basin countriesUnited StatesMax length35 miles 56 327 m Surface area12 900 acres 5 200 ha Water volume677 000 acre ft 0 835 km3 Shore length1130 miles 210 km Surface elevation632 feet 193 m IslandsGoat IslandSettlementsMuskogee Oklahoma1 Shore length is not a well defined measure Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Electric power generation 1 2 Water supply 2 Recreation 3 Wildlife Management Area 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksGeography Edit source source source source source source source source source source source source source source Release of floodwater in 2015 The lake covers 12 900 acres 52 km and has a shoreline of over 130 miles 210 km in the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains of Cherokee and Sequoyah counties about seven miles 11 km northeast of the town of Gore and 10 miles 16 km from the intersection of I 40 and the Muskogee Turnpike The distance from major cities include 150 miles 240 km east of Oklahoma City 50 miles 80 km west of Fort Smith Arkansas 75 miles 121 km southeast of Tulsa and 30 miles 48 km from Muskogee 1 One of the townships bordering this lake is Paradise Hill at the far southwestern edge of the lake It is known for its violent drop offs some going from a grown man s waist level to over his head This is the cause of many deaths in the lake 1 Electric power generation Edit The hydroelectric power station is remotely controlled from the control center at Fort Gibson Lake Two generators each rated for 17 megawatts provide a total capacity of 34 megawatts MWe The facility can handle 40 MWe for a short period of time However the amount of power that can actually be generated depends heavily on the lake elevation at any given time 1 Water supply Edit Originally the amount of water delivered by the project was considered incidental although the quality of water was much higher than that of the Arkansas River the closest alternative source Much of this water was expected to be used by the Kerr McGee Nuclear Fuel Plant That plant closed in 1975 The cities of Muskogee and Sallisaw are now major consumers 1 Recreation EditAttractions near the lake include scuba diving camping hiking fishing golfing water sports scenic nature fishing and hunting In addition there are eight miles 13 km of trout fishing along the Illinois River There are also ten marinas fourteen parks 24 boat launching ramps five floating restaurants and many islands including Goat Island which is famous for the goats that inhabit it 3 Scuba divers can even see the ruins of old communities that were flooded by the lake such as the original town of Cookson Other than the goats many other animals inhabit the area including Canada geese white tail deer ducks monarch butterflies warblers otters mink beaver bear mountain lion wild hogs wild turkey and bald eagles Tenkiller State Park Cherokee Landing State Park and several Corps parks are among the parks bordering the lake Wildlife Management Area EditThe Tenkiller Wildlife Management Area consists of 2 950 acres 11 900 000 m2 on the southwest shoreline of the lake a mixture of upland and riparian habitat The upland portion is covered with oak and hickory The riparian portion contains mostly willow sycamore hackberry elm ash and birch 4 Notes Edit See List of lakes in Oklahoma References Edit a b c d e Warner Badger and Lage A Little History of the Tenkiller Lake Area Retrieved May 4 2013 Lake Tenkiller area visitors guide Retrieved May 4 2013 Tenkiller Wildlife Management Area Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Retrieved May 4 2013 External links EditOfficial website U S Army Corps of Engineers website U S Army Corps of Engineers Corps Lake Getaway U S Army Corps of Engineers lake website U S Army Corps of Engineers lake data Lake Tenkiller Home Page Oklahoma Digital Maps Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory Warner Larkin Daniel D Badger and Gerald M Lage U S Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District Impact Study of the Construction and Operation of the Tenkiller Ferry Lake Oklahoma August 1973 Overflow release on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tenkiller Ferry Lake amp oldid 1107525289, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
