Overview
Lake Hudson (Markham Ferry Reservoir) is a roughly 11,000-acre reservoir on the Grand (Neosho) River in Mayes County, about two miles northwest of Locust Grove. It was created in 1964 when the Grand River Dam Authority completed the Robert S. Kerr Dam (Markham Ferry project), GRDA's second major hydroelectric development on the Grand River below Pensacola Dam.
OWRB survey figures show about 143 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 18 feet, and a maximum depth of about 65 feet at the 619-foot conservation pool. The lake is more riverine than Grand above it, with a long main channel, creek arms, and a mix of bluff and flatter shoreline between Pryor and Locust Grove.
Hudson is popular for bass, crappie, white bass, and catfish, and it supports boating and lakeside living similar to Grand. Fisheries are managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, with public ramps and GRDA recreation access along the reservoir. Upstream lies Grand Lake o' the Cherokees; downstream is Fort Gibson Lake.
GRDA regulates the conservation pool near 619 feet NGVD29, while the Corps of Engineers directs use of flood storage between 619 and 636 feet. Releases from Grand and local runoff can change Hudson quickly, so monitoring current lake levels matters for docks, boating, and fishing.
Current Conditions
Lake Hudson is currently 1.32 feet above full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.01 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.51 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.
Lake Hudson is a 11,029-acre reservoir on the Grand (Neosho) River managed by Grand River Dam Authority.