Lake Altus-Lugert
Encyclopedia
Lake Altus-Lugert, also known as Lake Altus and Lake Lugert is a reservoir
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
.
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.
. 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).
The Quartz Mountain Nature 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 at Quartz Mountain Resort, Arts & Conference Center, 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 Resort, Arts & Conference Center consists of a main lodge facility offering 118 rooms, a performance center, outdoor amphitheater and 11 cabins. The lodge was recently rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original lodge. Once reconstruction was completed, ownership of the lodge was transferred from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department to the Regents for Higher Education who manages the property currently. The lodge rooms are decorated in western, Native American and southwestern decor and each features four pieces of original artwork. The lodge contains a large collection of art created by professional artists and the gifted students who attend the Quartz Mountain Arts Institute each summer.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located 17 miles (27 km) north of Altus, Oklahoma
Altus, Oklahoma
Altus is a city in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County....
on the former site of the town of Lugert, Oklahoma
Lugert, Oklahoma
The town of Lugert was founded in 1901 on in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. In the town, a general store that housed the Post office and sold: dry goods, school supplies, groceries, harnesses, axes and much more. At the height of its prosperity the town had a bank, 2 hotels, 2 pool halls, 2 restaurants,...
. The lake is used for fishing, boating, swimming, and irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
.
History
Lake Lugert was created over a former town of Lugert (founded in 1902) which was destroyed by tornado on April 27, 1912. One can see old foundations of the houses which used to stand in the area. Layers of brick and weeds dominate the area making it hard to walk through when the lake is dry. The towns was hit by tornado several times leaving the town to only rebuild. Later after the last tornado hit the town, the towns people decided to leave abandoning the entire town. Lake Altus has been expanded to include the town of Lugert, also creating Lake Lugert.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
Altus, Oklahoma
Altus is a city in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County....
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. 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 154092 acre.ft, of which 1663 acre.ft are dead storage, 19597 acre.ft are flood control storage, and 132832 acre.ft are conservation storage. The last 10000 acre.ft of conservation storage is reserved for municipal water for Altus, OklahomaAltus, Oklahoma
Altus is a city in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County....
. 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 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 Nature 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 at Quartz Mountain Resort, Arts & Conference Center, 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 Resort, Arts & Conference Center
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.Quartz Mountain Resort, Arts & Conference Center consists of a main lodge facility offering 118 rooms, a performance center, outdoor amphitheater and 11 cabins. The lodge was recently rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original lodge. Once reconstruction was completed, ownership of the lodge was transferred from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department to the Regents for Higher Education who manages the property currently. The lodge rooms are decorated in western, Native American and southwestern decor and each features four pieces of original artwork. The lodge contains a large collection of art created by professional artists and the gifted students who attend the Quartz Mountain Arts Institute each summer.
External links
- Lake Level information from the Army Corps of Engineers
- http://www.quartzmountainresort.com/
- Quartz Mountain Resort, Arts & Conference Center information, photos and videos on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
- Lake Altus-Lugert information and photos on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma