Really feel like we took about 10,000 acre feet too many about 2 years ago. We could really use that as a back up right about now.

Really feel like we took about 10,000 acre feet too many about 2 years ago. We could really use that as a back up right about now.

They actually didn't need to take any. Spring of 2013 was extremely wet.

Pet Laws. Get over them. Thx.

Pet Laws. Get over them. Thx.
uhhhh what?

uhhhh what?

Never question the meaning of any post by rm. He understands everything he says. (I think) :)

You know how you can tell you spend too much time on this board? When you can even understand RM's typos. He meant pet LAWNS.

They actually didn't need to take any. Spring of 2013 was extremely wet.

I think they did it because they filmed part of the movie Rudderless at the lake and it needed water in it at the time of filming. It seems like it started pouring rain a week after they filmed.

I think they did it because they filmed part of the movie Rudderless at the lake and it needed water in it at the time of filming. It seems like it started pouring rain a week after they filmed.
I meant in a hindsight 20/20 the lake would have filled up on its own with the rain we got that year.

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OKC needs to be progressive and proactive and do what has been done at Arcadia Lake. Keep the lake level 1' higher than what is considered "full". Even 6" would be a good buffer to help get through the no rain + 100 degrees every day in July/August. We get one big spring rain and that is what they fill up the lake with.

When the lake level is as low as it is now; I'm sure when water is added; the lake bed and the banks absorb who knows how much water initially. With the increasing population the demand on the water isn't going to ease up.

http://s9.postimg.org/pqy0ehuv3/lake.jpg
Oklahoma Water Resources Board: Reservoir Storage (http://www.owrb.ok.gov/supply/drought/reservoirstorage.php)

Where are you going to get the water to fill it? And if Hefner/Overholser are 6" to 1' over "full" where are you going to put the rain?

would be great to give back to Canton.

OKC needs to be progressive and proactive and do what has been done at Arcadia Lake. Keep the lake level 1' higher than what is considered "full". Even 6" would be a good buffer to help get through the no rain + 100 degrees every day in July/August. We get one big spring rain and that is what they fill up the lake with.

When the lake level is as low as it is now; I'm sure when water is added; the lake bed and the banks absorb who knows how much water initially. With the increasing population the demand on the water isn't going to ease up.

http://s9.postimg.org/pqy0ehuv3/lake.jpg
Oklahoma Water Resources Board: Reservoir Storage (http://www.owrb.ok.gov/supply/drought/reservoirstorage.php)

If we had the water to do that, it wouldn't be low in the first place. There won't be water stability at lake Hefner until another pipline from the east gets built. I'm beginning to think drought conditions in the west are going to be the new norm, but maybe we will get a tropical storm that drops 12 inches of rain out west this year. Weather is unpredictable.

Those pipelines are still at least 2.5 years away from even beginning construction, and that's just for one, and figure they have to go over 100 miles, relief from the SE is not going to be quick. This is best case scenario as tribal easements and preservation plans for the American Burying Beetle along the pipeline's proposed route are still being figured out.

would LOVE to have a tropical storm or a normal warm front system to stick around for a few days dropping a foot or more in the west of OKC.

Doesn't the water from McGee Creek all go to Stanley Draper? Can't imagine the cost of building a main to bring water from Draper to Hefner.

Pet Laws. Get over them. Thx.

some mean lady yelled at us at the park about pet leash laws- really hurt the lab's feelings.

Doesn't the water from McGee Creek all go to Stanley Draper? Can't imagine the cost of building a main to bring water from Draper to Hefner.

Pretty much the only water flowing into Draper is from a pipeline from Atoka Reservour

There is an oil well pad just on the N side of 164th and MacArthur. 3 wells drilled on this one site and they are sucking water out of OKC hydrants during the whole drilling and now fracking process. Sure they are paying for the millions of gallons of water, but its just not right in my book. When summer rolls around this year and we don't have a wet spring we will be SOL imo. They put this well just outside of city limits to avoid OKC restrictions etc. They drilled a mile south down towards NW150th under my neighborhood for one of the 3 wells. I am not sure where the other two went direction wise. There is a home right next to this well too. I can not imagine the noise for the past 3 months they've had. It is bad enough being roughly 1/4 mile from it. So when we are really low on water this summer call up OKC and let them have it for selling our drinking water for oil well drilling.

There is an oil well pad just on the N side of 164th and MacArthur. 3 wells drilled on this one site and they are sucking water out of OKC hydrants during the whole drilling and now fracking process. Sure they are paying for the millions of gallons of water, but its just not right in my book. When summer rolls around this year and we don't have a wet spring we will be SOL imo. They put this well just outside of city limits to avoid OKC restrictions etc. They drilled a mile south down towards NW150th under my neighborhood for one of the 3 wells. I am not sure where the other two went direction wise. There is a home right next to this well too. I can not imagine the noise for the past 3 months they've had. It is bad enough being roughly 1/4 mile from it. So when we are really low on water this summer call up OKC and let them have it for selling our drinking water for oil well drilling.

1 acre foot = 325,000 gallons of water and hefner currently has 47,500 acre ft. That's 15,437,500,000 gallons.

So even if they pulled 10,000,000 gallons that's about .064% of the total water supply. Math is hard.


USGS Current Conditions for USGS 07159550 Lake Hefner at Oklahoma City, OK (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ok/nwis/uv?site_no=07159550)
https://www.google.com/search?q=acre+feet+to+gallons&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

You are assuming OKC can use all 47,500 acre/ft. According to Marsha Slaughter, they cannot go below 40,000. So, they only have 7,500 acre/ft available in Hefner. You should start your calculations there.

Go poke...the problem is the water is permanently (hopefully) removed from the water cycle. So around 1 percent (just for single well site) is now taken fron ever man,woman, and child in the metro. After a few wells doing the same your talking real amounts of water.

Math is hard....

I sometimes wonder how some of you people can look at yourself in the mirror each morning.

Go poke...the problem is the water is permanently (hopefully) removed from the water cycle. So around 1 percent (just for single well site) is now taken fron ever man,woman, and child in the metro. After a few wells doing the same your talking real amounts of water.

Math is hard....

I sometimes wonder how some of you people can look at yourself in the mirror each morning.

Loosing it from the local available reserve is an understandable concern but that is nothing in the grand scheme of the water cycle (which is not at local at all), plus while not OKC's main source it could well be drawn out by someone else eventually.

The water cycle feeding Hefner via canal from the North Canadian River and direct precipitation is quite feeble due to the extended drought for the last five years. Hefner isn't great right now, but it doesn't hold a candle to Lake Altus--it's at 10% (not a typo).

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Took this picture Feb. 4th. Just over 2 weeks ago

:eek:

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Took this picture Feb. 4th. Just over 2 weeks ago

:eek:

What an eyesore........
Meanwhile I wonder how the N Canadian River is..............oppps I mean the Oklahoma River is doing.

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Took this picture Feb. 4th. Just over 2 weeks ago

:eek:I think it was this same inlet that I saw yesterday while driving across Lakeshore Drive, but it was down to a foot-wide (literally) trickle in the deepest channel and the rest was almost-dry ground...

What an eyesore........
Meanwhile I wonder how the N Canadian River is..............oppps I mean the Oklahoma River is doing.

This stupid argument again, you could put the entire volume of the Oklahoma River in Hefner and it would not raise it an inch, plus it not like they are filling it with water from Overholser regularly, outside of a refresh years ago the OK River's water is coming from local streams runoff that never hit Overholser. The water the city is releasing from Overholser is normally just pass through the river because is mandated by either law or contracts that they can no longer hold it here anymore. They normally just use the May basin of the river to fill either of the other two to keep them usable when they have events going in those two sections there and need more water in them.

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Took this picture Feb. 4th. Just over 2 weeks ago

:eek:

It's probably been since late summer that OKC has seen a significant rainfall capable of raising Lake Hefner. I am not looking forward to tornadoes but hopefully OKC can get some good rain out of spring storm season this year.

It's probably been since late summer that OKC has seen a significant rainfall capable of raising Lake Hefner. I am not looking forward to tornadoes but hopefully OKC can get some good rain out of spring storm season this year.

Agreed. I hate seeing Hefner like that. Its such a beautiful lake and a real asset to the city.

Took the drone out to the lake today. Snapped a few pics (see below) and shot some video. This is the east side looking towards the lake side restaurants (I'm north, looking south - you can see the light house near the top center of each pic). Decided to cut it short because Air One was in the area twice and I won't fly if there is any air traffic anywhere close by. Hope to go back out to different parts of the lake for more pics on the next warm day......

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Wish we had more rain, here and elsewhere in the state, especially the western areas, border to border.

BBates, what is your altitude in these shots. I've never flown a drone, let alone owned one, but dang if these shots do not spark a bit of interest.

Wish we had more rain, here and elsewhere in the state, especially the western areas, border to border.

BBates, what is your altitude in these shots. I've never flown a drone, let alone owned one, but dang if these shots do not spark a bit of interest.

My altitude was about 200-300 feet. Can't remember what altitude when I shot those. I had to drop to 200 feet or less not long after taking off because of the police helicopter that flew in the area twice.

They are a lot of fun. But honestly, I consider them way too easy to fly. There definitely needs to be regulations, permitting, licensing, insurance etc. before there are far too many idiots losing control of these things in populated areas. I'm hoping to attend an out of state professional class on UAV's soon.

My altitude was about 200-300 feet. Can't remember what altitude when I shot those. I had to drop to 200 feet or less not long after taking off because of the police helicopter that flew in the area twice.

They are a lot of fun. But honestly, I consider them way too easy to fly. There definitely needs to be regulations, permitting, licensing, insurance etc. before there are far too many idiots losing control of these things in populated areas. I'm hoping to attend an out of state professional class on UAV's soon.

BBates, can we hire you for some drone lessons? : ) We got the same one you did, about a year ago, and haven't done much except crash it into the house or the ground. We've broken the blades, the thing that holds the camera (gimbal?), you name it. My husband dropped the controller and broke it. It's getting ridiculous. I suspect we haven't spent enough time flying it.

You are taking some incredible shots! Makes me very jealous. But thanks for sharing them with us.

My altitude was about 200-300 feet. Can't remember what altitude when I shot those. I had to drop to 200 feet or less not long after taking off because of the police helicopter that flew in the area twice.

They are a lot of fun. But honestly, I consider them way too easy to fly. There definitely needs to be regulations, permitting, licensing, insurance etc. before there are far too many idiots losing control of these things in populated areas. I'm hoping to attend an out of state professional class on UAV's soon.

It's interesting to see that perspective as I haven't taken my quad up near there. I'll have to get it in the air to take a look once it gets warm.

As for licensing see the latest FAA comments. Recreational will continue to be 400 altitude level and line of sight (in theory). Commercial work should be a $300ish license, 500 max altitude level, and still line of sight. Probably a couple of years before the licensing is ready though considering it's still in comments. Can't wait though although our phantoms and my tarot will be old news by then.

It's interesting to see that perspective as I haven't taken my quad up near there. I'll have to get it in the air to take a look once it gets warm.

As for licensing see the latest FAA comments. Recreational will continue to be 400 altitude level and line of sight (in theory). Commercial work should be a $300ish license, 500 max altitude level, and still line of sight. Probably a couple of years before the licensing is ready though considering it's still in comments. Can't wait though although our phantoms and my tarot will be old news by then.

I hear ya. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out. But I agree it will still be a few years before any regulations are actually enacted.

I am hoping for a license in the $300 range with mandatory insurance and the passing of a test. I think non licensed hobby operators should have some pretty defined restrictions, otherwise this will get out of hand quickly.

Sights while on a jog today:

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At some point we need to take advantage of these droughts and dig out these dry portions of Hefner (and other lakes) so that when we get rains that do finally replenish the lake, it doesn't take nearly as long to drain...

At some point we need to take advantage of these droughts and dig out these dry portions of Hefner (and other lakes) so that when we get rains that do finally replenish the lake, it doesn't take nearly as long to drain...

While that might be something to consider, Hefner does not have nearly as bad a silting issue as Overholser. You can see in those images the rip rap from when those structures were built has very little buildup over it, they were just built on shallow areas of the lake.

I hear ya. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out. But I agree it will still be a few years before any regulations are actually enacted.

I am hoping for a license in the $300 range with mandatory insurance and the passing of a test. I think non licensed hobby operators should have some pretty defined restrictions, otherwise this will get out of hand quickly.

Is there a thread here where you discuss the specifics of your drone set-up and camera? Back in the late 70's and early 80's I used to fantasize about attaching a camera to a model rocket but this drone stuff is mind blowing!

Is there a thread here where you discuss the specifics of your drone set-up and camera? Back in the late 70's and early 80's I used to fantasize about attaching a camera to a model rocket but this drone stuff is mind blowing!

Its a pretty simple setup and purchased from Phantom 2 Vision+ | DJI (http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-2-vision-plus)

Canton looks to be getting a much needed reprieve. Should finish out the night with somewhere between 1.5 to 3 inches right on top of the lake, and hopefully some run-off as well.

At some point we need to take advantage of these droughts and dig out these dry portions of Hefner (and other lakes) so that when we get rains that do finally replenish the lake, it doesn't take nearly as long to drain...

IF we get rains that replenish the lake. I do believe it is time for the city to get serious about water usage. Businesses and people with out of the ordinary water usage need to pay through the nose or be restricted entirely. We may be the next Phoenix so it's probably time to start thinking about xeriscaping.

IF we get rains that replenish the lake. I do believe it is time for the city to get serious about water usage. Businesses and people with out of the ordinary water usage need to pay through the nose or be restricted entirely. We may be the next Phoenix so it's probably time to start thinking about xeriscaping.

The new park would be a good start.

I voted for it and the whitewater facility and look forward to using the whitewater facility. It, along with our other recreational water features and advertisements we are a grand land of vast water resources are part of the OKC's bi-polar water conservation policy, do as we say not as we do. It's a quandary.


People want to know where the water will come from and if it is wise to build the park during the drought.

News Channel 4 asked and found out it will take 8 million gallons to fill the course.

The water will come from Lake Stanley Draper and will be cleaned and recirculated.

“We’ll need to top it off every day when it’s really hot, but we don’t expect to use a whole lot of water in relation to how much water the city uses on a daily basis,” Kristy Yager, an Oklahoma City spokesperson, said.

Debbie Ragan is with the OKC Utility Department. She says the park will not hurt the city’s water source.

“8 million gallons is not going to impact our capacity,” Ragan said.

8 million gallons from state lake to go to OKC?s new RiverSport Rapids | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2015/04/10/8-millions-gallons-from-state-lake-to-go-to-okcs-new-riversport-rapids/)

As cool as I think the rafting course is going to be we really do need to start wondering if things like this make as much sense as building a ski resort in Dubai. Yes it can be done, but should it be done? Maybe a ban should be placed on new private swimming pools and direct new homeowners to public facilities (or purchase an existing home that already has a pool).

I was at Hefner a few weeks ago and near the fishing pier it was 360' from the high water line to the actual water.

I live on 10 ac and garden to stock my freezers. Ok, do I use my ground water (you have water rights to 10 ac to water 3 ac) or do I buy produce from the store that is grown in Calif that is watered with water coming from rapidly depletely aquafers. My water level in my well as risen over the years not gone down.

Locally grown food is the best option for many reasons. The problem in Oklahoma isn't that there's not enough water to survive with, it that there isn't enough to live like it is a rainforest. When given the choice between water for growing food or watering a 1/2 acre yard, too many people are picking the yard.

IF we get rains that replenish the lake. I do believe it is time for the city to get serious about water usage. Businesses and people with out of the ordinary water usage need to pay through the nose or be restricted entirely. We may be the next Phoenix so it's probably time to start thinking about xeriscaping.

We don't live in a desert, so we don't have to plant like we do. I've lived in a desert before and few of you understand how little water they receive. We get plenty of rain here. We just over use it. Just raise water prices and people will use less

Raising water rates might keep some people from watering but at the end of day, what happens when those people stop watering their yards?

I believe the council passed this tiered rate structure and increase last year.


Slaughter referred to the changes as an inclining-block structure that would encourage conservation, because increased water use pushes customers into more expensive tiers. Oklahoma City water customers currently pay the same price for each 1,000 gallons of water used.

Under the proposal, a second-tier rate will apply to the thousands of gallons used that exceed the first 10,000 gallons in a billing month. The average residential customer – who uses 7,000 gallons of water and 5,000 gallons of wastewater – would see an increase of $2.88 per month in the utility bill beginning in October. That would be an increase of 5.5 percent in the first year. Rate increases are also planned for 2016 and 2017, which would raise the example bill to $57.35 and $60.29.

Officials said about 20 percent of residential bills may reach the second tier.

Similar rate blocks would be created for nonresidential customers, which include multifamily, commercial, industrial and all other users. An example hospital that currently consumes about 51,000 gallons of water and uses nearly 38,000 gallons of wastewater would see a monthly increase of $26,000 next year.

Read more: Rate increases in the pipeline: OKC Council considers tiered water billing system | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2014/08/12/rate-increases-in-the-pipeline-okc-council-considers-tiered-water-billing-system-general-news/#ixzz3XCXz71Ue)

Holy cow, are those examples accurate? 7 average OKC homes use as much water as a hospital?

According to the San Diego paper, the most expensive housing district in San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, uses 584 gallons per day — more than four times the state average. So it appears the average water use for households in CA is only about 4000 gallons per month. The higher use in Rancho Santa Fe is due to the large lawns and orchards. Many are now ripping out lawns and using xeriscaping to lower usage. CA is doing a tier system and also considering penalites to be applied to whole districts that go above an average number. I think this is to encourage neighbors to police neighbors and turn in broken irrigation lines and over watering. There will be rules that you can't water for 48 hours after a measurable rainfall and limits on the time for watering lawns. If there is an 'excessive' amount of water running down the street after watering, you can get a fine for that too.

We don't live in a desert, so we don't have to plant like we do. I've lived in a desert before and few of you understand how little water they receive. We get plenty of rain here. We just over use it. Just raise water prices and people will use less

Have to disagree that we get plenty of rain - at least in recent times and much of Okla is in dire straits. I guess raising rates if fine but that won't address what appears to be a long term problem / issue for much of the state and region.

Oklahoma Climatological Survey | U.S. Drought Monitor (http://climate.ok.gov/index.php/climate/map/u.s._drought_monitor/drought_wildfire)

Edit: Nevermind. My eyesight is apparently getting really bad.

Hefner picked up half a foot in the last couple of days...ony 12.5 more feet and it will be normal again!

I flew over both Canton and Hefner last week. Hopefully spring rains help these lakes fill back up.

Canton has gotten a bunch of rain over the last few days and it appears it's raining over the lake right now. Good for them! Hopefully they get record rains this spring to help fill it up. Conservation pool over 25% full. That's a good start.

That's the highest it's been since the last release, so definitely making some progress.

Hefner has picked up an entire foot in the past couple of weeks. Only 12 more feet until normal elevation!

Have to disagree that we get plenty of rain - at least in recent times and much of Okla is in dire straits. I guess raising rates if fine but that won't address what appears to be a long term problem / issue for much of the state and region.

Oklahoma Climatological Survey | U.S. Drought Monitor (http://climate.ok.gov/index.php/climate/map/u.s._drought_monitor/drought_wildfire)

Climate is always changing and we're currently in the dry side after many years of wet. We receive on average 36 inches of rain per year. That's 3acre feet per acre. That's plenty. We just use tons, which is fine we have it to use most years. We don't live in a desert, however if we need to we can cut back and way back. Most homes use 1 acre foot per year. Desert cities in the SW (mostly NM, unlike AZ and Cali they woke and realized hey we live in a freaking desert, 1800 sq ft of grass is a bad idea) use only .25 acre feet per year. If our backs hit the wall we could cloud seed and ban watering lawns plus higher water rates and people would use a lot less water.

In a shortage all the water someone needs is cooking, laundry, dishes, showers, and toilets.

We'll be ok.