About 750 acres of land in areas previously subject to flooding can be irrigated since the dam has been constructed, but the tracts are discontinuous and can best be served by individual or small group developments. As the primary purpose of the project, municipal water is furnished to the communities of Norman, Midwest City, and Del City by pumping from Lake Thunderbird. Norman Dam regulates runoff on Little River which, when integrated with existing ground-water sources, satisfies the municipal water needs of the three communities. Wildlife A major secondary benefit of the project is recreation. Lake Thunderbird, situated in central Oklahoma near Oklahoma City, Norman, and several other cities, hosts over a million visitors each year.
Fishing is excellent with largemouth bass, catfish, and walleye being the sought after species.
A large public hunting area offers such game as ducks, geese, rabbit, deer, squirrel, and quail in season. The recreation areas of Lake Thunderbird are administered by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. The Little River Basin is long and narrow, with streamflow generally in a southeast direction. Runoff from the upper portions of the basin is rapid during storm periods and the duration of flooding varies from a few hours to several days. Releases from the flood-control pool are made in accordance with regulations prepared by the Corps of Engineers, dated January 1965, in concurrence with the Bureau of Reclamation, and in close cooperation with the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District, the entity which has assumed operation and maintenance responsibility for the project facilities.