Lake Levels Remain Low Choctaw County and McCurtain County Oklahoma Idabel Hugo
Lake levels remain low in McCurtain County and Choctaw County Oklahoma. The drought and high heat both have affected the levels. If we do not get significant rain soon it can even affect employment in our counties.
Data from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers indicates that as of Friday, September 15, 2011, Broken Bow Lake was 9.6 feet below normal level. Even though it is below level, 201 cubic feet per second average discharge from the lake through the turbines, from 3 pm to 6 pm, into Mountain Fork River continues. The artificially maintained trout stream needs cool water from the bottom of the lake to maintain correct temperature for the trout.
Pine Creek Lake, located on Little River, approximately 8 miles north of Valliant, Oklahoma 74764,has a Flood Control Pool level (top of the pool) at 480.0 ft elevation above sea level, and the top of the Conservation or Navigation Pool is at the 433.0 ft elevation. Pine Creek Lake (Valliant Oklahoma 74764) is currently at the 426.21 feet of elevation level. The control storage capacity is below 51% of it's normal capacity. The Army Corp of Engineers data table indicates minimal releases from the lake into Little River are continuing.
A recent article in a local newspaper, The McCurtain Gazette, published at Idabel, Oklahoma 74745, indicates that Pine Creek Lake is at critical stage for elevation. The Corp of Engineers lowered the level of the lake in the spring of this year to do some repairs on the leaking dam. Then drought hit Southeast Oklahoma. The International Paper Plant located at Valliant, Oklahoma which has an allocation to withdraw water from Little River below the dam to produce containerboard at it's pulp and the paper mill at Valliant may have down town (mill closed) if a significant rain does not raise the level of the lake by November of this year, according to that newspaper article. This will affect the economy of our area quickly.
The article went on to state that Jim Croston, chief of water management with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, stated that the dropping level of Pine Creek Lake is the No. 1 focus of the Corps right now. The city of Idabel also draws water from Little River below the Pine Creek Dam for it's municipal customers but does not have an allocation.
Hugo Lake, located on the Kiamichi River, just east of Hugo Oklahoma, at Sawyer, Oklahoma currently is at the 592.97 elevation level. Top of the Flood control pool is 627.5 elevation and Top of the Conservation pool is 602.5 elevation level. Hugo is currently releasing more water from the lake than either Broken Bow or Pine Creek Lake. In fact, the city of Hugo and Hugo Lake has been in the news lately because Hugo agreed to sell Water from Hugo Lake to Irving, Texas, in Tarrant County. The state of Oklahoma will not allow it. Law suites etc have been the topic of numerous news articles over that one.
Now while all of this is interesting and important, especially as it pertains to our local economy and economic development.. let me tell you a secret. ................. ..................... ........ .. ... ............................... ........................ ............... .... ........... ................. ...................... ....................... ....... ............... ..........Ready? .........
Ok. Here 's the deal. Drought does not affect the lake level at Raymond Gary Lake. It is a spring-fed lake. Water goes over the spillway in humungous quantities on a daily basis even in drought. The water in the lake is at 401 elevation unless we get a rain significant enough to raise the lake levels. If that happens, the water normally returns to the 401 elevation in a fairly reasonable time due to the fact that the spillway is a wide spillway for this size of lake.
So there you have it.. we have some variation in our lakes here in Southeast Oklahoma and how each one has been affected by the current drought. AND it too shall pass. :)
It's still one of the greatest places on God's green earth to live. Call me if I can answer any questions about our local lakes!
This blog post was originally posted at Integrity Real Estate Services Blog.
Looking for a home for sale in Idabel, Oklahoma? Let me Google that for you.
Judi Barrett, B.S. Edu.,
Broker, Integrity Real Estate Services, Office Address: RR 5 BOX 126, IDABEL, OK 74745 580-212-5946
Our Name Says It All.
Real Estate Services You Can Trust.
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Interesting ... we have had those types of summers here i Northern Nevada. Not this year though ... record water last year has kept the rivers flowing and the creeks high! Great Blog!
Thanks Lisa. The drought has every area of our lives caught captive right now in Southeast Oklahoma (McCurtain County and Choctaw County Oklahoma)
I pray you get some much needed rain soon Judi...your area can sure use it!
Judi
It looks like you can use a rain dance in Oklahoma, lets pray for some rain.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Judi, water seems to be one of those things that we seem to take for granted until a drought comes along. We have been blessed here in the North East this year with an abundance of rain, better that than not enough of it.
Thank you George, Lou, Anita, and Lisa for coming by and commenting.
Judy, Here is in Texas some parts have been getting rain.... Finally! I've been watching Oklahoma's weather and it looks like a few areas got some rain in your state. We just need to continue to pray.