Lake Thunderbird
Encyclopedia
Lake Thunderbird is a reservoir
within the city limits of Norman
, in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. The lake was constructed between 1962 and 1965 for the purpose of providing municipal water to nearby communities. It is formed by an earthfill embankment (dam
) 7,300 feet long and up to 144 feet (43.9 m) high on the Little River
. In addition to being a source for drinking water, Lake Thunderbird's secondary uses include numerous recreational activities.
The lake is named for the Native American legend of the Thunderbird
, a supernatural bird of power and strength. Many locals commonly refer to the lake as "Lake Dirtybird" due to the very murky lake water.
studies in 1936 and 1947 for flood control. In 1953 the issue of water supply was raised among a council of local governments consisting of Norman
, Midwest City
, Del City
, Moore
and Tinker Air Force Base
, and it was forecast that by the 1970s and 1980s the cities would be requiring all available water to meet municipal demand. A feasibility study in 1954 led to a plan report in May 1961, and construction began on Norman Dam in 1962. Oklahoma State Highway 9 was re-routed in 1963 from present-day Alameda Street to its current location, south of the lake. The dam and lake were completed in 1965.
. In addition to water activities the park offers hunting, horse rental and boarding, equestrian trails, hiking, mountain biking, nature trails, a nature center, and an archery range. The park has 447 primitive campsites and unfurnished one-room lake huts as well as RV provisions. The park is near two casinos and has its own restaurant, the Clear Bay Cafe, which is open seasonally and is accessible by boat or car. On May 10, 2010 the Little River Marina was struck by a tornado and is currently closed.
winter migration corridor. Bald Eagles are present at the lake roughly from December through February. Guided eagle tours are provided by the Crow's Secret Nature Center.
, presumed to be a freshwater octopus
. Due to an increase in reports of drownings in recent years, tales of the Oklahoma Octopus have increased, gaining national attention from well-known media outlets such as Animal Planet
's Lost Tapes
. To date the octopus remains a myth since no freshwater species of octopus are known to exist, and because of the relatively young age of the human-made lake with no connecting inlets.
As of 2001, the lakes' standard surface level was at 1039 ft (316.7 m) above sea level, the maximum depth of the lake was 58 ft (17.7 m), with an average depth of 15.4 ft (4.7 m). The top of the Lake Thunderbird Dam was (and is) 1071 ft (326.4 m) above sea level, 32 ft (9.8 m) above the standard level of the lake. The lakes' surface area was 5349 acre (21.6 km²). The volume of the reservoir (at this standard depth) was 105838 acre.ft. The total watershed area feeding the lake is 163840 acre (663 km²). The rate at which sediment was accumulating in the lake is 393 acre.ft a year. The reservoir had lost a total of 13762 acre.ft of capacity since its completion in 1965. The shoreline length was 60 miles (96.6 km). The capacity of the reservoir, the maximum depth, and the average depth had all decreased since 1965. The following table gives original statistics for the reservoir from 1965.
wrote a 2010 song "Kissin' in the Rain" about Lake Thunderbird off his "Bullets in the Gun
" album.
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...
within the city limits of Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. The lake was constructed between 1962 and 1965 for the purpose of providing municipal water to nearby communities. It is formed by an earthfill embankment (dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
) 7,300 feet long and up to 144 feet (43.9 m) high on the Little River
Little River (Oklahoma)
The Little River is a tributary of the Canadian River, long, in central Oklahoma in the United States. Via the Canadian and Arkansas rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
. In addition to being a source for drinking water, Lake Thunderbird's secondary uses include numerous recreational activities.
The lake is named for the Native American legend of the Thunderbird
Thunderbird (mythology)
The Thunderbird is a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples' history and culture. It is considered a "supernatural" bird of power and strength...
, a supernatural bird of power and strength. Many locals commonly refer to the lake as "Lake Dirtybird" due to the very murky lake water.
History
The Little River valley was the subject of several Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
studies in 1936 and 1947 for flood control. In 1953 the issue of water supply was raised among a council of local governments consisting of Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, Midwest City
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,371, making it the eighth largest city in the state....
, Del City
Del City, Oklahoma
Del City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 21,332 at the 2010 census....
, Moore
Moore, Oklahoma
Moore is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 55,081 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh largest city in the state of Oklahoma....
and Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, and it was forecast that by the 1970s and 1980s the cities would be requiring all available water to meet municipal demand. A feasibility study in 1954 led to a plan report in May 1961, and construction began on Norman Dam in 1962. Oklahoma State Highway 9 was re-routed in 1963 from present-day Alameda Street to its current location, south of the lake. The dam and lake were completed in 1965.
Recreation
Lake Thunderbird is a venue for boating, fishing, and hiking. The lake has two marinas and a boathouse that are operated and maintained by the Lake Thunderbird Boathouse volunteer organization. The Boathouse Organization in cooperation with the Lake Thunderbird Education Foundation make possible several events throughout the year, including sailing lessons, sailing camps for children, an annual fishing derby for developmentally disabled children, sanctioned sailboat races, and fun regattas. Fish species stocked at the lake include large-mouth bass, crappie, sunfish, channel catfish, white bass, and saugeye.Lake Thunderbird State Park
The 6,000 acre (24 km²) lake is the centerpiece of Lake Thunderbird State ParkLake Thunderbird State Park
Lake Thunderbird State Park is a Oklahoma state park located in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. It is located near the city of Norman, Oklahoma. Lake Thunderbird State Park offers a variety of water activities and recreation. The park features two marinas, Calypso Cove Marina and Little River...
. In addition to water activities the park offers hunting, horse rental and boarding, equestrian trails, hiking, mountain biking, nature trails, a nature center, and an archery range. The park has 447 primitive campsites and unfurnished one-room lake huts as well as RV provisions. The park is near two casinos and has its own restaurant, the Clear Bay Cafe, which is open seasonally and is accessible by boat or car. On May 10, 2010 the Little River Marina was struck by a tornado and is currently closed.
Eagle Watching
Lake Thunderbird falls within the Bald EagleBald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
winter migration corridor. Bald Eagles are present at the lake roughly from December through February. Guided eagle tours are provided by the Crow's Secret Nature Center.
Lake Monster Controversy
In recent years the lake has become the subject of national attention due to allegations of a lake monsterLake monster
A lake monster or loch monster is a purported form of fresh-water-dwelling megafauna appearing in mythology, rumor, or local folklore, but whose existence lacks scientific support. A well known example is the Loch Ness Monster. Lake monsters' depictions are often similar to some sea monsters...
, presumed to be a freshwater octopus
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
. Due to an increase in reports of drownings in recent years, tales of the Oklahoma Octopus have increased, gaining national attention from well-known media outlets such as Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
's Lost Tapes
Lost Tapes
Lost Tapes is an American horror/thriller docudrama television series that airs on Animal Planet. Produced by Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program presents fictional found footage depicting traumatic encounters with cryptozoological creatures , including the Chupacabra and Bigfoot, and even...
. To date the octopus remains a myth since no freshwater species of octopus are known to exist, and because of the relatively young age of the human-made lake with no connecting inlets.
Reservoir Details
The water temperature of the lake ranges from about 86 °F (30 °C) during the summer months to under 40 °F (4.4 °C) during the winter months. In the summer, at a depth of 30 feet (9.1 m), the water temperature is about 10 F-change cooler than at the surface. Surface water temperature is usually about 60 °F (15.6 °C) during spring and fall months.As of 2001, the lakes' standard surface level was at 1039 ft (316.7 m) above sea level, the maximum depth of the lake was 58 ft (17.7 m), with an average depth of 15.4 ft (4.7 m). The top of the Lake Thunderbird Dam was (and is) 1071 ft (326.4 m) above sea level, 32 ft (9.8 m) above the standard level of the lake. The lakes' surface area was 5349 acre (21.6 km²). The volume of the reservoir (at this standard depth) was 105838 acre.ft. The total watershed area feeding the lake is 163840 acre (663 km²). The rate at which sediment was accumulating in the lake is 393 acre.ft a year. The reservoir had lost a total of 13762 acre.ft of capacity since its completion in 1965. The shoreline length was 60 miles (96.6 km). The capacity of the reservoir, the maximum depth, and the average depth had all decreased since 1965. The following table gives original statistics for the reservoir from 1965.
| Full Reservoir Capacity | Standard Capacity | Minimum Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 196260 acre.ft | 119600 acre.ft | 13640 acre.ft |
| Maximum depth 68 feet (20.7 m) | Maximum depth 58 feet (17.7 m) | Maximum depth 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Surface elevation 1049 feet (319.7 m) above sea level | Surface elevation 1039 feet (316.7 m) above sea level | Surface elevation 1010 feet (307.8 m) above sea level |
Pop Culture References
-Toby KeithToby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
wrote a 2010 song "Kissin' in the Rain" about Lake Thunderbird off his "Bullets in the Gun
Bullets in the Gun
Upon its release, Bullets in the Gun received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 76, based on 6 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable...
" album.