Elmer Thomas Lake is a lake in Comanche County in the state of Oklahoma in the United States.[3] It is located on the boundary between the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge and Fort Sill military base. The lake is named for an Oklahoma lawyer and politician, Elmer Thomas (1876–1965), who lived in Lawton and represented Oklahoma's 6th Congressional District in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1922 until 1926, then was elected as U.S. Senator, where he served until 1950.[4]

Elmer Thomas Lake
Lake Elmer Thomas from observation deck of Mountain Scott
Location of Elmer Thomas Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Location of Elmer Thomas Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Elmer Thomas Lake
Location of Elmer Thomas Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Location of Elmer Thomas Lake in Oklahoma, USA.
Elmer Thomas Lake
LocationComanche County, Oklahoma
Coordinates34°43′29″N 98°31′14″W / 34.724769°N 98.520612°W / 34.724769; -98.520612
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsLittle Medicine Creek
Primary outflowsLittle Medicine Creek
Catchment area4,377 acres (1,771 ha)
Basin countries United States
Surface area334 acres (135 ha)
Average depth35.92 ft (10.95 m)
Water volume12,000 acre⋅ft (0.015 km3)
Surface elevation1,383 ft (422 m)
SettlementsFort Sill, Lawton, Medicine Park, Meers
References[1][2]

The lake has a stream source from Little Medicine Creek, encompasses 334 acres (135 ha), and primarily serves as a recreation area.[5]

Recreation

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Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) which is on the Fort Sill military base, provides camping areas, cabins, a swim beach, water slides, picnic areas, boating ramps and boat rentals. On the refuge side of the lake, there are two fishing piers and a boating ramp.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lake Elmer Thomas" (PDF). Oklahoma Water Resources Board ~ Beneficial Use Monitoring Program (BUMP). Oklahoma State Portal ~ OK.gov. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  2. ^ "Lake Elmer Thomas Map". Oklahoma Water Resources Board ~ Lakes Of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State Portal ~ OK.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elmer Thomas Lake
  4. ^ Webb, David D. "Thomas, John William Elmer (1876-1965). Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed November 12, 2012.
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little Medicine Creek
  6. ^ Fort Sill MWR. "Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA)". Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2005-05-15.
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