Drought leaves Hefner’s lakebed high and dry

By Bryan Dean

Published: November 14, 2006

Looking for a romantic activity? Consider a walk on Lake Hefner. Though it may not have the magic of a lakeside stroll, a walk on the dry lakebed is possible.

Recent drought conditions have left the lake more than 10 feet below its normal levels, exposing vast expanses that normally would be under water.

The low lake level is a major aggravation for boaters, but city officials said it won’t cause a shortage of drinking water.

Bret Weingart, assistant director of Oklahoma City’s Water and Wastewater Department, said Lake Hefner, Lake Stanley Draper and Lake Overholser are well below their normal elevations.

While it may not look good, it isn’t cause for panic about drinking water supplies, Weingart said.

“Our lakes are built much larger than you would need for a water supply in any one year,” Weingart said. “The lakes are fulfilling their intended purpose as a water supply.”

Still, city officials are praying for rain along with boaters and anyone else who uses city lakes for recreational purposes.

While supply is not a problem, maintaining water quality is a concern.

“When the lake levels are low, there are treatment issues,” Weingart said. “Minerals become more concentrated, making it more difficult to filter them out. If there were more water available, we would take it.”

The city owns water rights at Lake Canton in northwest Oklahoma and could ask for a release of water, which would travel along the North Canadian River to Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser.

But Weingart said such a release isn’t a good option right now for several reasons.

The city is waiting on a construction project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before any water can be released.

The quality of the water from Canton also could be an issue, Weingart said.

And with drought conditions statewide, much of the water would never make it to Oklahoma City.

“If you try to take water from Canton when there is little or no rainfall, you are going to lose a significant portion of the release on its way to Oklahoma City,” Weingart said. “There have been times when we’ve taken releases and you only get about 50 percent of the water coming to the lake. At other times you may get 60 percent or more.” Waiting for the rain

Even with a release from Canton, Lake Hefner’s level would be nowhere near normal. Such a release would raise the level one or two feet at most, Weingart said.

The solution is simple: Rain.

Not only would more rain help fill the lake, it would also make it easier to release water from Canton.

“We have to wait and be patient for the rain,” Weingart said. “We want everyone to be happy in boating and enjoying the lake. The only way that’s going to happen is when we get more water from rain.”