Boaters Take Advantage Of Receding Flood Waters

Friday, August 3rd 2007, 8:49 pm

By: News On 6

Flood waters forced Oologah Lake to close, drowning profits one family business depends on. Now, the waters have receded and many are hitting the lake. Summer is almost over, but for many boaters it's just beginning. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports they can finally hit the lake, and one family business hopes to finally cash in.

For weeks Oologah Lake was off limits.

â€œMy mom and dad's livelihoods tied up into this. My wife and I's livelihoods tied into this. It's what feeds our kids, puts a roof over all of our heads. If one of us fails, we all fail. We have to survive,â€ said marina owner Michael Fawcett.

Redbud Marina depends on traffic at the lake to keep them busy, but flooding put a damper on their plans and their profits.

â€œWaterâ€™s been pretty bad. This is the first time I've been out since early spring,â€ said boater John Wilkes.

At its worst, the water was 29 feet above normal, so high it completely covered a bathroom and knocked it off its foundation, but now the water has gone down and business has gone up.

â€œIt's picked up probably 40% from where it was a week ago, and we're just trying to play it by ear and see what's going to happen,â€ Fawcett.

As long as the weather cooperates they won't have to worry about boaters leaving.

â€œI'm ready for summer now, ready to catch some fish,â€ said boater Scott Rhine.

The marina says it won't recoup all the money it's lost this season, but at least all is not loss.

Watch the video: Overfilled Lake Finally Open For Business

Links for lake levels at Oklahoma lakes are listed below.

Birch Lake

Bird Creek at Sperry

Caney River at Bartlesville

Caney River at Collinsville

Canton Lake

Copan Lake

Council Grove Lake

Deep Fork River at Beggs

El Dorado Lake

Eufaula Lake

Fall River Lake

Fort Supply Lake

Ft. Gibson Lake

Grand Lake

Great Salt Plains Lake

Heyburn Lake

Hudson Lake

Hulah Lake

Kaw Lake

Keystone Lake

Neosho River level at Commerce

Oologah Lake

Skiatook Lake

Tenkiller Lake

Lake Texoma

Verdigris River level at Lenapah

Waurika Lake