Meet The "Other" Mystery Dam on Lake Texoma




Let's face it, Lake Texoma is big. It's so big that there are many different "neighborhoods" to explore, whether you're just visiting the lake or seriously looking for a lake place to call your own. Although the Denison Dam is well known as the primary reason the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas swelled into the lake we all love today, there is actually another dam, or so it's rumored. Our mystery dam has a neighborhood all its own. But, first things first. The Denison Dam was built during the second world war, completed in 1944, and at that time it was the largest earth-filled dam in America. It eventually lost that status (now it's number 12) but it serves as flood control as well as a hydro-electric power generator, and, as many fisherman will tell you, a great place to fish. The Denison Dam is accessed by Highway 91, off Highway 75 at Denison, Texas. So, where is that other, mystery dam on Lake Texoma located? Actually, the Army Corps of Engineers calls it a levee, not a dam. But fisherman call it a dam, hence the confusion. And it's really two levees (dams) not one, just to confuse the issue a little more. The Cumberland Levee North and the Cumberland Levee South are located at the far north end of Lake Texoma, off Hwy 78, west of Fort Washita in Bryan County, Oklahoma. They control flooding in the area, which the Corps describes as "high risk," and serve as a significant component of the flood control purposes of Lake Texoma, augmenting the larger purposes of the Denison Dam. There's a little town called Cumberland that is located west of Lake Texoma in Marshall County, Oklahoma, in the general area as well. And, the partially restored ruins of old Fort Washita, unused since the Civil War period, are maintained by the Oklahoma Historical Society and open to the public, east of the levees. So, there you have it. You are in the know regarding the "other" dam on Lake Texoma. Don't let anyone (except the Army Corps of Engineers of course) tell you that there's only one dam on Lake Texoma. Now you know better!




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Lake Texoma Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Texoma Weather Forecast

Monday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 91

Monday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 77

Tuesday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 89

Tuesday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 77

Wednesday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Wednesday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 77

Thursday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 91

Thursday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 78


Lake Texoma Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 6/30: 619.95 (+2.95)



Lake Texoma

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jun. 25)

FAIR. Water stained; 74 degrees; 5.41 feet above pool. Striper fishing is hit-and-miss with so much outflow but fish are consistent in shallower water 15-25 feet on live shad. Also seeing fish on humps and ledges in deeper water 40-55 feet of water on live shad. Be on the lookout for topwater action as bait moves off the banks and into deeper water with the warming temps. The bite will bust loose once they shut the flood gates and we are at normal pool level. Catfishing is good for blues on cut shad in 40-55 feet of water and channels are still along the rocks in 25-30 feet of water on punch bait. Bigger blues fish near the rivers with cut rough fish/gizzard shad drifting or anchored in 15-25 feet of water. Largemouth and smallmouth are improving with the lake conditions and water clarity. Watch for things to clear up quickly in the coves and creeks especially when they slow the outflow. Smallmouth will be on the boulders and rocks off the banks in 8-15 feet of water. Largemouth will shade and suspend in the clearer water under docks and marinas. Report by Jacob Orr, Lake Texoma, Guaranteed Guide Service. The water is dropping nearly 9 inches a day, and should be normal around Independence Day. Striped bass hit-and-missing with live bait in 20-30 feet of water. The small threadfin shad should start to run midlake and when this happens the topwater bite should be good. Report by John Blasingame, Adventure Texoma Outdoors.

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