Overview
Grand Lake—formally Grand Lake o' the Cherokees—is a roughly 46,500-acre reservoir on the Grand (Neosho) River in northeastern Oklahoma, spanning parts of Craig, Delaware, Mayes, and Ottawa counties. It was created in 1940 when the Grand River Dam Authority completed Pensacola Dam between Langley and Disney, Oklahoma's first major hydroelectric project. GRDA operates the lake for hydropower and recreation, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directing flood-control releases when the pool enters the flood range.
With about 1,300 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 36 feet, and a maximum depth around 140 feet, Grand is a deep, rocky Ozark-foothills lake fed by the Neosho, Spring, and Elk rivers. Long points, bluff banks, and countless coves create one of the most intricate shorelines in the state.
Grand is one of Oklahoma's premier destination lakes for boating, skiing, and fishing—especially for black bass, white bass, crappie, and catfish—with fisheries managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Marinas, resorts, and public ramps concentrate around Grove, Disney, Langley, and other shoreline communities. See also the catalog entry for Grand Lake o' the Cherokees.
GRDA manages elevations on a seasonal Pensacola Datum (PD) rule curve, typically near 742 feet PD in cooler months and up to about 744 feet PD in early summer, with flood-control storage extending toward 755 feet PD under Corps authority. Because PD is a local project datum (about 1.07 feet below NGVD), and because generation and flood operations move the pool, monitoring current lake levels is essential for docks, boating safety, and fishing.
Current Conditions
Grand Lake is currently 1.23 feet above full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.69 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.91 ft
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
- Active advisories1 active (Notice)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Grand Lake is a 46,500-acre reservoir on the Neosho River managed by Grand River Dam Authority.