Optima Wildlife Management Area

Once featured on NBC's The Fleecing of America as a glaring symbol of government waste. The failed Optima reservoir has found a sort of second life as a rare wetlands refuge on the high plains. As well as back roads oddity of both horrific grandeur and spectacular vistas.

The dam itself a piece of history as the last WPA project completed after numerous delays in the 1970's still stands as an odd testament to lack of oversight and understanding of an individual region's environmental conditions. The lake itself will never fill up due in part on several conditions including the lack of flow from the main water source, the Beaver River (due in some part to increased irrigation), the presence of permeable soils, and a high regional evaporation rate. The reservoir as so many other likewise projects was marketed as both a recreational and environmental (flood management, drinking water, etc.) opportunity and although there has not been a flood on the Beaver River since construction; Optima has been labeled as one of the Army Corp. of Engineers greatest failures and is used by numerous Environmental Geology Professors as an educational example of what not to do.

The now nearly hidden dam and mostly dry lakebed sits unmarked about 20 miles east of Guymon and a less than 5 mile drive, east by northeast from the town of Hardesty using US 412 and a rather peculiarly wide blacktop 2 miles outside of town. Currently the access road across the dam remains open, but due to recent talk about a damaged guardrail it's future as an opened road is in question. There are several paths one can take to gain access to the lakebed and in dry conditions a road is available (although I do not recommend you try this in anything less than a 4x4). There are numerous decaying recreational facilities still standing and some structures are highly dangerous to enter, so stay out and explore this site safe. My personal recommendation is to drive the dam access road and visit the main visitors center, get out and look around, but please be careful of debris and rattlesnakes (yes, people they are out there). Perhaps the most telling and laughable sight you will witness during your viewing of Optima is the presence of boat ramps and a sign describing the fishing opportunities for this lake that never filled up. After visiting Optima, a small cafe in Hardesty is great option for lunch or a 30 min drive to Guymon to visit the Seafood and Taco stand is a must.