Officials Brainstorm Ways To Improve Skiatook Lake Levels

The Army Corps of Engineers had its first brainstorming session Friday to find ways to bring the water level back up in Skiatook Lake.

The Corps' Drought Management Committee said the lake is at 56 percent of its normal level.

There was a meeting of the minds at the Skiatook Community Center Friday morning. The group didn't come up with specific solutions, but they said improving the levels will take some time.

10/23/2014 Related Story: Corps Of Engineers Hopes To Improve Skiatook Lake Levels

"The lake is so low the boat docks are on the grass, some of the ramps go into the water but the boat docks are on the grass," said Skiatook resident, J.D. Prather.

Even with the recent rainfall, the levels at Skiatook Lake are still low; they haven't been normal since 2010.

The Corps' Drought Management Committee said the receding water is a big concern.

Skiatook homeowners, Prather, said the water woes run deep.

It's affected the city too. People coming in buying ice and snacks and eating at establishments and that sort of thing,” he said. “Some people go to the lake and they stop by the casino. The casino, I think, is feeling it also.

Officials spent two hours Friday talking about the drought's impact on the lake. Eight entities across Oklahoma use Skiatook's water, which means there is really only one solution.

"The number one issue is rain, and so I haven't figured out how to make it rain. You know, we are working on that too,” said Colonel Richard Pratt with the Army Corp of Engineers.

Officials said, while they can't control that, they can encourage people to try and conserve water.

Prather said, “It's 15.7 feet low, the lowest it's been since the lake's been put in.”

Officials point out they can't close floodgates to retain water because it would impact water quality downstream.

"We have got a lot of input from local leaders and stakeholders. We will certainly go back and work with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and OK Water Resources Board and see if there are things that we can do collectively to come up with solutions,” Pratt said.

The group meets again next month.