Lake Ellsworth Dam Repairs Hit 60% as Drought Leaves Lawton's Lake Well Below Normal

Lake Ellsworth looks a whole lot different these days, and there are two reasons for it: a major dam repair project and a stubborn drought. The City of Lawton says work on the dam is about 60% complete and still on track for a late March 2028 finish. Since April, crews have installed rock anchors, poured concrete slabs, demolished concrete along the ogee spillway, and placed baffle blocks, chute blocks and end sills. Concrete structures and training walls are still ahead. Public Works Director Rusty Whisenhunt says both the schedule and the total cost remain unchanged.

The lake was lowered to 1,229 feet back in May 2025 to give crews room to work, but Mother Nature had other plans. As of October 13, 2026, the lake’s elevation was 1,221.78 feet. Normal pool is 1,235 feet, which means Ellsworth is sitting more than 13 feet below where it should be. Construction gets part of the blame, but evaporation and the ongoing drought have pushed it even further down. The city expects low levels to stick around for the life of the project.

Funding for the repairs comes from two American Rescue Plan Act grants, a High Hazard Dam Grant, and a State Revolving Fund loan that will be repaid through utility rates. In the meantime, the city is asking everyone to be careful around the water. Low levels have exposed rocks, trees, land and debris, and there are hazards you simply can’t see below the surface. If you’re heading out to Ellsworth, treat it like unfamiliar ground.

Have you been out to the lake since the water dropped? What surprised you most about what’s now visible?