Lake Ellsworth
Lake Ellsworth is an earth dam located in Comanche County, Oklahoma, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Ellsworth
The primary purpose of Lake Ellsworth 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 East Cache Creek near Richards Spur.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 3,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 189,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 249 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/16/2022.
At 96 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 | Richards Spur |
| River/Stream | East Cache Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.79438, -98.36832 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 189,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 189,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 59,470 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 249 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 106,307 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF LAWTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK00452 |
| Federal ID | OK00452 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |