Strong attendance at Oklahoma’s state parks despite heat, drought and water issues

Hikers can nonetheless go to the park at Black Mesa whereas its effectively is out of service, however they’ll want to come back ready with their very own water. The closest water supply is 40 miles away, so it’s greatest to overestimate how a lot you’ll have to pack.

“It’s simply vital to maintain hydrated and be sure you do not get warmth exhaustion or warmth stroke,” mentioned Rylie Mansuetti with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Division. “Particularly in areas like Black Mesa, the place it’s extra rural and care would possibly take longer.”

Black Mesa State Park introduced that its effectively was down on July 25. They hope to have the effectively again up and operating as quickly because the pumps and a few pipes are changed. The park has a second effectively, but it surely’s not in working order after going unused for greater than seven years. The park hopes to restore each wells in order that they gained’t be left with out water once more.

Black Mesa isn’t the one Oklahoma state park experiencing water-related issues this summer season.

At Quartz Mountain, Lake Altus-Lugert’s reservoir storage is lower than 1 / 4 full, in line with information from the Oklahoma Water Sources Board. Turner Falls closed the diving board and slide at its fashionable Blue Gap swimming space attributable to low water ranges. A wildfire burned round 20,000 acres close to Boiling Springs State Park final week, and a small a part of Grand Lake has been house to a blue-green algae bloom for nearly a month.

However these challenges haven’t saved guests away.

“June 2022 noticed over 45,000 park visits, which is de facto unimaginable,” Mansuetti mentioned. That’s a 23 p.c improve from June of final 12 months. “Primarily based on our reserving numbers, we’re very optimistic that the parks will proceed to have sturdy visitation for us this summer season.”

For individuals planning visits to any of Oklahoma’s state parks, Mansuetti recommends checking the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Division’s web site for up-to-date info on blue-green algae blooms, fishing circumstances and burn bans.