As the spring months heat up, more Oklahomans are heading out to the lake for fishing, swimming, boating and other recreational activities.
So far in 2025, visitors to Oklahoma lakes haven’t had to worry much about low lake levels. As of late April, most of Oklahoma’s lakes and reservoirs are at or slightly above normal.
Only a small number of lakes are below standard levels.
Are Oklahoma lakes flooded?
At this point, there aren’t any reservoirs in Oklahoma that are at risk of overtopping their dams. Each lake is allowed a certain number of feet above the standard “conservation” level as it holds excess water. Most lake levels now are currently somewhere in that buffer zone, which is called the flood pool.
If it gets too high, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will let some of it drain by opening additional gates. They can also restrict water flow if areas downstream are susceptible to flooding.
“Our goal is to protect life and property by trying to not add to a bad situation,” said Brannen Parrish, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Tulsa.
The flood pool at Ft. Gibson Lake, located in northeastern Oklahoma, was around 40% full as of April 21, according to Army Corp of Engineers data.
Visitors to Arbuckle Lake in southern Oklahoma will also notice the lake a bit swollen.
Other lakes with more than a quarter of their flood pool filled include Grand Lake and Lake Eufaula, both in eastern Oklahoma.
Which Oklahoma lakes are low?
With plenty of rain hitting watersheds across the Great Plains over the past few weeks, most Oklahoma lakes have avoided low water levels.
Some are below the standard conservation level, however.
Waurika Lake south of Lawton, for example, is more than a foot below its normal elevation. The same goes for Skiatook Lake, which is northwest of Tulsa.
Why lake levels are important for safety
As the water levels rise, structures along the lake’s edge that aren’t properly floated could be damaged. It can also erode the shoreline, causing instability.
Low water levels can hamper good fishing spots and make the water harder to access via infrastructure like boat ramps.
“The main thing we tell people, as far as recreation goes, is if a reservoir is high or up a foot or two, then keep in mind that there may be things that are submerged that wouldn’t normally be submerged. You need to be cautious of that,” Parrish said.
Swimmers and boaters should use caution, since obstacles like trees and rocks can disappear under the waves. People diving into the water should take special precautions to properly gauge the underwater depth.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lake levels: Corps of Engineers report shift after flooding