Historic Flooding Affects Fishing, Wildlife Areas
Eufaula dam released about 170,000 cubic feet of water per second. (Danny Bowen/ODWC) Many public hunting and fishing areas managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have sustained damage from the historic flooding that has engulfed many sections of the state this month. Especially hard-hit are fishing areas at the Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow reservoir and roads and camping sites at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area north of Tishomingo. Also, many wildlife management areas across the southern half of the state have experienced flash flooding of streams and creeks due to May's record rainfall. By May 25, Oklahoma City had shattered its record for the all-time wettest month on record, with more than 18 inches of rain. Early May's heavy rainfall saturated the ground in many areas, and subsequent precipitation has caused flash floods and pushed creeks and rivers out of their banks. For only the fourth time in Lake Texoma's...