Overview
Wister Lake is a roughly 6,300-acre reservoir on the Poteau River in LeFlore County, about two miles south of Wister in eastern Oklahoma. It was completed in 1949 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, water supply, low-flow augmentation, and related purposes; the conservation pool was later permanently raised to 478 feet.
OWRB hydrographic survey results show about 91 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 8 feet, and a maximum depth of about 38 feet at normal pool. The shallow, timbered basin and Poteau River channel create abundant cover but demand careful navigation, especially after floods.
Wister is known for bass, crappie, and catfish fishing and for waterfowl hunting on surrounding public lands, with fisheries managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Corps recreation areas and public ramps serve the Poteau / Heavener region near the Ouachita foothills.
Water levels are managed by the Corps around a conservation pool of 478 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with flood-control storage extending to 502.5 feet. The Poteau watershed can produce rapid rises into the flood pool, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing, and shoreline access.
Current Conditions
Wister Lake is currently 0.79 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.37 ft
- 30-day changeDown 1.12 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
- Active advisories2 active (Notice)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Wister Lake is a 6,288-acre reservoir on the Poteau River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.