Nanih Waiyah Lake

Nanih Waiya Lake is a small recreational lake in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. [lower-alpha 1] It is in the Ouachita Mountains, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma,[2] and 16.3 miles (26.2 km) from Talihina, Oklahoma.[3]

Nanih Waiyah Lake
Nanih Waiyah Lake
LocationPushmataha County, Oklahoma
Coordinates34°38′04″N 95°18′02″W
Typeartificial lake
Surface area131 acres (0.53 km2)
Water volume1,064 acre feet (1,312,000 m3)
Shore length13 miles (4.8 km)
Surface elevation594 foot (181 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake, which was built in 1958, impounds the waters of several small creeks which are Kiamichi River tributaries. It was named for Nanih Waiya, the first capital of the Choctaw Nation after its removal during the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, which is nearby. It is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Nanih Waiya Lake comprises 131 acres (0.53 km2) of area and 3 miles (4.8 km) of shoreline. Normal pool elevation is 594 foot (181 m) above sea level. Its normal holding capacity is 1,064 acre feet (1,312,000 m3).[4]

The lake is popular for boating and fishing. There are two boat ramps, one on the southeast shore and one on the southwest shore. The area around the lake has sites for pitching tents. Hiking trails near the lake are: Clayton Trail, Cripple Mountain Trail, Five N Trail, Hurd Trail and Walters Mule Trail.[5]

The Choctaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma signed an agreement that allows the Choctaw Nation to buy at least 50,000 hunting and fishing licenses at $2.00 each for its resident citizens. The Choctaw Nation will also pay $200,000 and an administrative fee of $75,000 per year to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which owns the lake. The Choctaw Nation will also take over maintenance of Lake Nanih Waiya. The agreement went into effect January 1, 2017 and ends December 31, 2019.[6]

References
  1. Bright, William. Native American Placenames of the Southwest: A Handbook for Travelers. p. 65. University of Oklahoma Press:Norman. ISBN 978-0-8061-2444-5. 2013. Available on Google Books.
  2. Mapcarta "Lake Nanih Waiya."
  3. "Nanih Waiya Lake Dam Fishing." Hook and Bullet.com 2017 Accessed April 20, 2017.
  4. “Nanih Waiya Lake”, Oklahoma Water Atlas, Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
  5. "Lake Nanih Waiya, Ouachita Mountains, Oklahoma." HikerCentral.com. Accessed April 20, 2017.
  6. "Choctaw Nation, State of Oklahoma reach hunting, fishing compact." KFOR.com September 1, 2016. Accessed April 20, 2017,

Notes
  1. According to Bright, the Choctaw name literally translates into English as "hill leaning".[1]
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