Lawtonka Lake
Lawtonka Lake is a gravity dam located in Comanche County, Oklahoma, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lawtonka Lake
The primary purpose of Lawtonka Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Lawton (local government). It impounds the Medicine Creek near Medicine Park.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 612 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,286 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 88,665 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 92 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/16/2022.
At 90 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Oklahoma dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Comanche |
| Nearest City | Medicine Park |
| River/Stream | Medicine Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.73631, -98.50339 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 612 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 88,665 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 88,665 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54,698 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,286 acres |
| Drainage Area | 92 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 33,012 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF LAWTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK00450 |
| Federal ID | OK00450 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |