Lake Wister

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Lake Wister
Aerial view of lake and Wister Dam
Location	Oklahoma
Coordinates	34°56′13″N, 94°43′59″WCoordinates: 34°56′13″N, 94°43′59″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Poteau River, Fourche Maline creek
Basin countries	United States
Water volume	73,000 acre-feet (90,000,000 m³)
Surface elevation	478 feet (146 m)

Lake Wister is a reservoir in southeast Oklahoma. The lake is created by the Poteau River and the Fourche 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. It is also listed on National Register of Historic Places. The area around Wister Lake has been inhabited for thousands of years.

[edit] History

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.

The area around the lake has been inhabited for thousands of years. There are numerous mounds in the area that were created by prehistoric Native Americans.