Carlton Lake
Carlton Lake is an arch dam located in Latimer County, Oklahoma, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Carlton Lake
The primary purpose of Carlton Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dept Of Tourism & Recreation (state). It impounds the Fourche Maline Creek near Wilburton.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 243 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 552 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | Latimer |
| Nearest City | Wilburton |
| River/Stream | Fourche Maline Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.97688, -95.36045 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 243 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 552 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 552 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 552 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DEPT OF TOURISM & RECREATION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OK02175 |
| Federal ID | OK02175 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |