Hulah Lake is a man-made reservoir that was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers damming the Caney River in northeastern Osage County, Oklahoma, within the Osage Indian Reservation. Hulah is an Osage word meaning "eagle”, and was the name of the farming community that was located in the valley before the construction of th…Hulah Lake is a man-made reservoir that was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers damming the Caney River in northeastern Osage County, Oklahoma, within the Osage Indian Reservation. Hulah is an Osage word meaning "eagle”, and was the name of the farming community that was located in the valley before the construction of the dam. The primary purpose of the lake is flood control. It has become a popular recreation area. According to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Hulah Lake project includes a public hunting area, bringing the total project area to 21,510 acres.