The City of Oklahoma City sends this information as posted below:
The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust (OCWUT), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), is moving forward with the scheduled release of water from Canton Lake to replenish critical water levels in Lake Hefner, a primary water source for Oklahoma City and seventeen other cities and rural water districts served by the Water Trust.
The water release, which began on Oct. 22, will continue through Nov. 5 to provide the planned 16,000-acre feet of water to help meet the current supply needs of Oklahoma City.
To responsibly manage the release, OCWUT and the Corps have closely coordinated to adjust the release rate during the upcoming anticipated rain events to minimize the risk of localized lowland flooding along the North Canadian River, which is transporting the water from Canton. While these rain events are forecasted to contribute some additional water, experts have determined that the rainfall will likely be insufficient to meet the water level needs at Lake Hefner.
“We appreciate the concerns of legislators and community members in Western Oklahoma and are committed to working collaboratively to preserve both the economic and recreational value of Canton Lake,” said Chris Browning, Oklahoma City Utilities Director and OCWUT General Manager. “However, given the current water levels at Lake Hefner, even with predicted rain, this release is necessary to help meet the Oklahoma City metro’s water demands as we head into winter.”
Due to the arid conditions of the North Canadian River, stopping and later resuming the water transfer would likely result in greater water loss from soil absorption and evaporation. Continuous release will help minimize these losses by keeping the riverbed moist and the water flow steady, reducing the likelihood of future water releases from Canton Lake.
OCWUT holds 100% of the Canton Lake water storage allocation, pursuant to a contracted agreement with the Corps. This allocation is vital to maintaining a reliable drinking water supply for the Oklahoma City area, especially during periods of reduced precipitation and low lake levels.
Several years ago, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust developed and adopted a lake balance plan to avoid the impacts of large releases from its water supply reservoirs. When the release began on Oct. 22, Lake Hefner was seven feet below its full pool. Even with the 16,000-acre feet added from Canton Lake, Hefner will remain approximately four feet below full pool. The requested release will lower Canton Lake to a level approximately the same as Hefner. Trust officials are hopeful that the anticipated winter rainfall will help replenish the City’s water supply in coming months.
OCWUT remains committed to working with state and local agencies to monitor water levels and optimize the efficient use of resources to serve the needs of Oklahoma City and surrounding cities while respecting the interests of Western Oklahoma communities.
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