Lake Overholser is a reservoir within the city limits of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The lake straddles the line separating Oklahoma and Canadian counties. Lake Overholser is formed by Overholser Dam on the North Canadian River in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The lake is 2.9miles west of Bethany. Lake Overholser is named after Ed Overholser who was the 16th Mayor of the City of Oklahoma City.
The lake was originally intended to assure an adequate supply of municipal water, since the city depended primarily on the North Canadian River as a source, supplemented by private wells. The need for flood control capability became obvious when the river flooded in 1923, it breached the Lake Overholser Dam, and inundated much of the city.