Lake Overholser

Lake Overholser is a 1,500-acre reservoir on the North Canadian River within the city limits of Oklahoma City. Completed in 1919, it is the oldest reservoir in the Oklahoma City area and was built to assure an adequate municipal water supply. It is named for Ed Overholser, the 16th mayor of Oklahoma City. The lake covers about 1,500 acres with 7 miles of shoreline, an average depth of 6 feet, and a maximum depth of 13 feet. The Overholser Dam, a reinforced poured-concrete buttress dam 68 feet high designed by Niels Ambursen, impounds the river; city voters approved a $1.5 million bond issue for the project in 1916. The original 1926 alignment of U.S. Route 66 ran along the lake's north shore until 1958; the surviving section is now North Overholser Drive. The lake is managed by the City of Oklahoma City as one of its three lake reservoirs. Popular activities include fishing, boating, cycling, and paddleboarding. A covered fishing pier sits on the southwest side of the lake; species include white bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Boating is allowed with a required city boating permit, but swimming is prohibited. A Riversport-operated boathouse at 3115 E Overholser Dr offers kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding.