Oklahoma City Lake Runs Dry, Reveals Its Bottom

Darren Brown, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma's dry weather is taking a big toll on lakes across the state. One of the hardest hit is Lake Overholser. The water levels are so low, all sorts of submerged objects are now resurfacing.

"When I was in high school, we called this Lake Hold ‘er Closer, instead of Overholser, ‘cause this was the make out place for the town" said Charles Roberts.

"This is the lowest I've ever seen it," he said.

Roberts has been fishing in this lake since he was a kid, and he's seeing things he's never seen before.

"Really, there's a lot of stuff in here. A car or pickup back down to the dam. And there's another one they dug out close to the 66 Bridge."

The trash can be seen not only from the fishing pier, but from a bike path as well.

Travis Bayer rides Overholser trails.

"It's depressing how low this lake has gotten, he said.  "You're starting to see stuff on the very bottom of the lake bed that you would have never known was there before."

Like dozens of trash cans, and the truck that Charles mentioned.

"I can't even tell you how long that's probably been there. It looks old and decrepit," Bayer said.

That could also describe some street signs, like one that mentions a hundred dollar fine for littering.

"You could probably walk out to the middle of the lake and stand there," Bayer said. "There's no water at all."

Residents around the lake know that there's no magic formula to bringing Overholser back--just rain, and lots of it.