Background
The dam and lake were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who still administer it. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and construction began in 1950. In 1951, construction was halted and resumed in 1955. In 1963, the majority of the project was complete and all facilities were in 1974. In 1976, the City of Tulsa built a pipeline connecting Oologah to the Lynn Lake Reservoir in Tulsa. Raw water supplied by this system is treated by the A. B. Jewell Water Treatment Plant, which was built in 1974 with a design capacity of 90,000,000 US gallons per day (340,000 m3/d). The Jewell plant capacity has since been expanded to 120,000,000 US gallons per day (450,000 m3/d).
The Oologah Dam is located at 36°25′19″N 95°40′49″W / 36.42194°N 95.68028°W / 36.42194; -95.68028 (Oologah Dam) and is an earth-fill embankment type. Its maximum height is 137 ft (42 m) above the river bed and the embankment is 4,000 ft (1,219 m) long. The dam's spillway is located 2 mi (3 km) to the east and is composed of seven radial gates.
Recreation opportunities include a swimming beach, mountain biking, marina, RV and tent camping, picnic tables and a playground. On the east side of the lake, the Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail winds around the shore from the Spillway to Blue Creek Park totalling 18 miles.
Famous American actor, philosopher, cowboy and writer, Will Rogers, was born on the Dog Iron Ranch which now sits on the shores of Oologah Lake since the basin was dammed and flooded.
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