The Fort Gibson Dam is a

gravity dam A gravity dam is a dam constructed from concrete or stone masonry and designed to hold back water by using only the weight of the material and its resistance against the foundation to oppose the horizontal pressure of water pushing against it. ...

on the Grand (Neosho) River in Oklahoma, north of the town of

Fort Gibson Fort Gibson is a historic military site next to the modern city of Fort Gibson, in Muskogee County Oklahoma. It guarded the American frontier in Indian Territory from 1824 to 1888. When it was constructed, the fort was farther west than any othe ...

. The dam forms Fort Gibson Lake. The primary purposes of the dam and lake are flood control and

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

power production, although supply of drinking water to local communities, as well as recreation, are additional benefits. The project was authorized by the

Flood Control Act of 1941 The Flood Control Act of 1941 was an Act of the United States Congress signed into law by US President Franklin Roosevelt that authorized civil engineering projects such as dams, levees, dikes, and other flood control measures through the United ...

and construction began the next year. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

construction was suspended and it recommenced in May 1946. In June 1949, the river was closed and the entire project was complete in September 1953 with the operation of the last of the power plant's four generators. Rights to construct the project originally belonged to the

Grand River Dam Authority The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is an agency of the state of Oklahomcreated to control, develop, and maintain the Grand River (Oklahoma), Grand River waterway. It was created by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1935, and is headquartered in ...

, but were seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1946.

Salient features

Dam

Spillway

Outlet works

Reservoir

Contractors

First Contract: Al Johnson construction co. Winston brothers co. peter kiewit sons co. 608

Foshay Tower The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929, months before the stock market crash in October of that year. It ...

. Minneapolis, Minnesota Second Contract: W. R. Grimshaw company. - Tulsa, Oklahoma

References

External links

Sequoyah State Park - Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

Fort Gibson Lake Area - Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
{{authority control Buildings and structures in Cherokee County, Oklahoma Buildings and structures in Wagoner County, Oklahoma Dams in Oklahoma Hydroelectric power plants in Oklahoma Gravity dams United States Army Corps of Engineers dams Dams completed in 1946 Energy infrastructure completed in 1953 1953 establishments in Oklahoma