Lake Skiatuk is located on Highway 20, 4 miles west of the city of Skiatuk and 11 miles east of Homini, Oklahoma, about an hour from Tulsa. This beautiful lake is surrounded by the gentle rolling hills of Blackjack, Post-Oak and the Tallgrass prairies.
Lake Skiatuk has an area of about 10,500 acres and 160 miles of coastline. The winding coastline is emphasized by steep, picturesque bluffs that offer breathtaking views.
Skiatuk history
The city of Skiatuk appeared in the late 1880s. There are conflicting historical data on the origin of the name Skiatuk. One story says that the city was founded on the land in which the famous Indian Osage lived called Skiatoka. They called the community surrounding his house, the Skiatok settlement. There is another story that the name was taken from the Ski-A-Took, which is a Cherokee word meaning “big injury to me” or a description of a large person or vast space.
But it is generally accepted that Cherokee Chief William Rogers founded Skiatuk when he created a trading post in Cherokee State, located south of Bird's Creek. Skiatooka, Osage Indian was a frequent trader in the post, which may be the reason that his name was associated with the name of the city.
In the early 1920s, the road to Tulsa was paved. With good roads leading in all directions, Skiatuk became known as the Gateway to all points of the North, South, East and West. Skiatook began buying water from Spavinaw in 1930, but when Skiatook Lake was finally completed by 1984, Skiatook had its own source of water. Records show that the city of Skiatuk steadily grew from the very beginning in the 1880s. Since 1990, the population has increased by 93%.
On October 23, 1962, the Flood Control Act was approved by the 87th Congress. This sanctioned the construction of the Skiatouk dam and lake. This is one of five projects in the Bird Creek basin. These projects were recommended to meet the complex water needs in the area. The purpose of the construction of the dam and Lake Skiatouk was flood control, water supply, recreation and fish farming, and wildlife protection. By the time the project was completed on October 31, 1984, its total cost was $ 120 million.
The dam is a rolling embankment length of 3,590 feet, including a spillway. It rises 143 feet above the stream. The embankment has a crown width of 32 feet. Uncontrolled spillway consists of a concrete sill in the right lock. The bottom of the spillway is 100 feet wide, and the height of its top is 732.0 and has a design capacity of 21,700 cubic meters. Feet Graduation works include a gate tower with selective entrances; 10.5 feet long piped through the right abutment, served by two low-flow gateways 4.67 on 10.5 floors and a 36-inch water pipe.
Skiatook Lake offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, including:
- Boating and sailing You can go boating on Lake Skiatak. Boaters can explore islands and coves with natural rock outcrops. There are secluded areas where people can spend family walks. Soldiers can leave public boats or rent boats on two piers on the lake. The lake also has deep coastlines, giving sailboats the opportunity to maximize the available surface area of the lake. The winds come from the south or north, and this gives the boats the opportunity to rise and fall along the length of the lake. Wave heights are also minimized.
- swimming The water is clean and pure, which makes it safe for swimmers.
- Camping and picnic There are several lake camps that visitors can choose. The most popular is the Tall Chief Cove. Camping sites in Twin Points and Tall Chief Cove have water and electricity. Similarly, Crystal Bay Marina, which is located at a point overlooking the lake. More primitive camps are located on Bull Creek Peninsula. Also on the island of Armadillo. Stony Ridge beds, located next to a dam on Highway 20, can be accommodated in RV campgrounds.
- Hiking There are hiking trails located in the wildlife areas of Skiatuk Lake.
- hunting The coastline surrounding Lake Skiatuk is controlled by the United States Army Engineering Corporation. It is home to various species of wildlife, such as squirrels, rabbits, deer, some coyotes, quails, ducks, and other species of native birds. At any time of the year, about 8,000 acres of land are opened in different hunting areas (in accordance with state and federal hunting regulations).
- Fishing Skiatook Lake is well-known for providing one of the country's best fisheries. Bass fishermen are always rewarded for their efforts if they fish in the main theater of the lake or in apartment dwellers. The water is clean and clear throughout the year, because there are no agricultural fields, waste or chemicals. In addition, water discharges from the dam maintain downstream water quality and improve certain types of fisheries. Lake Skiatuk is always in perfect ecological balance. Very little land was cleared when Lake Skiatuk formed. Many of the trees remained in most of the bays. This provided a good habitat for fish, as well as privacy for bass fishermen. During the year, several fishing tournaments are held on the lake. Skiatuk Lake becomes a hot spot for bass guitar. It seemed in the tournament records that the bass fishermen were catching a small bass weighing up to five pounds. Other sports fish include large bass, black and white crappie, canal catfish, catfish, blue catfish, blue eyed eyes, carp, perch and others.
Lake Skiatuk is a primeval reservoir, which is a paradise for fish, as well as for nature lovers - especially for the bass fisherman. It is ideal for people who want to communicate with nature. So, if you want to rest for a few days or longer, come and visit Lake Sciacook in Oklahoma.
