Agricultural News
OWRB and Governor Stitt proclaim July as "Oklahoma Lakes Appreciation Month"
Thu, 02 Jul 2020 11:21:44 CDT
Oklahoma's lakes are among the state's most valuable natural resources as they provide drinking water, irrigation, energy, recreation, scenic beauty and wildlife habitat, to name a few. To recognize lakes' important role in Oklahoma's quality of life, Governor J. Kevin Stitt has proclaimed that July is "Oklahoma Lakes Appreciation Month."
Throughout the month, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's (OWRB), the Oklahoma Clean Lakes and Waters Association (OCLWA), the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), and others, will highlight the vital work that goes into managing, monitoring, and improving the state's lakes and reservoirs.
It is also a great opportunity for Oklahomans to highlight their favorite Oklahoma lake, or even trying some citizen science by joining this summer's "Secchi-Dip-In." The "Secchi Dip-In" is an effort by volunteers and professionals to gather data on water bodies during a short period of time each summer. Citizens can provide annual "snapshots" of water transparency and clarity at their favorite Oklahoma lake.
We encourage citizens to consider these other specific ways, highlighted by NALMS, you can show appreciation for your local Oklahoma lake:
• ORGANIZE Work through your local lake or watershed association or use SciStarter to plan a socially-distanced event.
• PREPARE to take measurements by watching the NALMS student-produced "How to Take a Secchi Depth"
• SHARE your activities on social media! Make sure to use our hashtags #OKLakesAppreciation, #SDI2020, & #LakesAppreciation
• SUBMIT your data to the Secchi Dip-In Database. Click here for ways to do this.
"Nearly all of us have special memories of going to an Oklahoma lake with our family and friends. Maybe it's the wind in your hair as the boat shoots across the water, pulling your first fish to the shore, or leaping into the water on a hot summer day. This month is a great opportunity to get out to an Oklahoma lake for some fun, socially-distanced activities, and then share why you appreciate Oklahoma's lakes. Remember, whether you are swimming, boating, kayaking, or enjoying other water activities, keep yourself and your family safe by practicing proper boating and swimming safety."
- Julie Chambers, OWRB Lake Monitoring Coordinator.
Oklahoma Lake Facts!
• Oklahoma's largest lake in surface area is Eufaula (105,000 acres); Lake Texoma is second (88,000 acres) both managed by the US Corps of Engineers. The state's largest lake in conservation storage is Texoma (2.6 million acre-feet of water); Eufaula is second (2.3 million acre-feet).
• The deepest lake in Oklahoma is W.R. Holway Lake located in Mayes County and managed by the Grand River Dam Authority.
• Average annual lake evaporation in Oklahoma ranges from 48 inches in the extreme east to 65 inches in the southwest, numbers that far exceed the average yearly rainfall in those areas.
• Two Oklahoma lakes were built before statehood in 1907: Lake Talawanda (1902) & Lake Lawtonka (1905)
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