Lake Altus-Lugert

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Altus-Lugert
image_lake = Altuslake-1.jpg
caption_lake = Lake Altus-Lugert, looking east
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location = Jackson County, Oklahoma
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basin_countries = United States
length =
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area = 26 km²
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Lake Altus-Lugert, also known as Lake Altus and Lake Lugert is a lake located 17 miles (27 km) north of Altus, Oklahoma on the former site of the town of Lugert, Oklahoma. The lake is used for fishing, boating, swimming, and irrigation.

History

Lake Altus-Lugert is the primary storage facility for the W.C. Austin Project of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This project provides irrigation water to some 48,000 acres (190 km²) of land located in southwestern Oklahoma.

Lake Altus had its beginnings in 1927 when the city of Altus, Oklahoma built Altus Dam as a source of municipal water for the city. Interest in providing irrigation water to farmers in the region prompted the U.S. Government to authorize construction of a larger reservoir in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1938. The dam was to be raised 50 feet (15 m) to impound more water. Construction started in 1941, and was interrupted by World War II. Construction resumed in 1944. The dam, as it stands today, was completed in 1947.

There is also an extensive system of canals leaving Lake Altus in order to deliver the irrigation water to farmland. Most of these canals and distribution laterals were completed by 1953.

Dam

Altus Dam is a concrete gravity, partially curved structure faced with granite masonry except on the downstream face of the overflow section. The dam is 110 feet (34 m) above foundation and 1,104 feet (336 m) long. It contains 70,200 cubic yards (54,000 m³) of concrete and masonry. Incorporated within the dam section are both controlled and uncontrolled overflow-type spillways and an irrigation outlet works which delivers water into the project canal system. The 58,000 cubic foot per second (1,600 m³/s) spillway is regulated by nine radial gates. Lake Altus has a total capacity of 154,092 acre feet (190,000,000 m³), of which 1,663 acre feet (2,000,000 m³) are dead storage, 19,597 acre feet (24,000,000 m³) are flood control storage, and 132,832 acre feet (164,000,000 m³) are conservation storage. The last 10,000 acre feet (12,000,000 m³) of conservation storage is reserved for municipal water for Altus, Oklahoma. Appurtenant reservoir structures are Lugert, East, North, and South Dikes, located at low places on the reservoir rim. Lugert Dike, the largest, is 4,245 feet (1,294 m) long and has a maximum height of 45 feet (14 m).

Recreation

Lake Altus, in the scenic Quartz Mountains, offers year-round recreation. The south portion of the area adjacent to the reservoir is managed for recreation purposes by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. The north portion of the reservoir area is managed for wildlife benefits by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. This includes a total water surface area of over 6,500 acres (26 km²), and a land area of over 4,000 acres (16 km²).

The Quartz Mountain State Park is located at the west edge of the reservoir. Public recreation facilities of all types are available, including an 18-hole golf course, lodging, and grocery store, organized group camps, recreation-vehicle pads, tent spaces, two swimming beaches, boat launching ramps, trailer spaces, campgrounds, picnic areas with shelters and tables, drinking water, restrooms, hiking trails, and access roads with parking. Fishing and hunting are popular, as well as picnicking, sightseeing, and many water sport activities.

Quartz Mountain Lodge & Resort

The first Quartz Mountain Lodge was built on the west side of Lake Altus in 1955. An electrical fire in 1995 destroyed most of the structure, what remained was demolished in 1998 so that reconstruction could begin. The new Quartz Mountain Lodge was completed in 2001.

References

* http://www.shopoklahoma.com/quartzmo.htm
* http://www.quartzmountain.org/lake.html
* [http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/wcaustin.html W.C. Austin Project Home Page - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation]
* [http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ok02500.htm Altus Dam Home Page - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation]

External links

* [http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ALTU.lakepage.html Lake Level information from the Army Corps of Engineers]
* http://www.quartzmountainresort.com/