Three Rivers Drain Wichita County—And Create Flood Risk

The Red River forms much of the county's northern border with Oklahoma. The Wichita River runs through the middle of the county, passing through Wichita Falls. The Little Wichita River flows through the southeastern part. Lake Wichita, established in 1901, has long served the area for irrigation and drinking water. Lake Arrowhead, on the Little Wichita River to the south, is the main municipal water source for Wichita Falls.

These rivers can flood during heavy rain events. The Wichita River at Wichita Falls has a NOAA stream gauge you can monitor in real time at water.noaa.gov. If you are buying land near any of these rivers or their tributaries, check FEMA flood map status before you close.