Wes Watkins Reservoir under New Management

In the late fall we enjoyed a visit from an old friend who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is 100% outdoors man and traveled to Oklahoma in a pick-up truck with an over-head camper on back. He asked if there were any interesting camp grounds close by.

I knew firsthand about the construction of Wes Watkins Reservoir back in the 90’s. I lived out in the McLoud, Oklahoma area about 2 miles from the boat ramp on the south side of the lake. So I decided to do some research.

Research of memories and the internet has turned up some interesting results.  The local Native American word Oklahoma means “red earth”, and as a born and raised Oklahoman I can attest to the red clay dirt that turns our rivers and lakes red, permanently stains clothing and is like glue when wet. The red clay resists water retention and so Oklahoma has been in the business of building reservoirs since statehood.

The Pottawatomie County Development Authority (PCDA) put a financial package together and issued bonds with the backing of the City of Shawnee and the City of Tecumseh, Shawnee received 85% of the water from the reservoir and Tecumseh received 15%; allowing one thing to be contingent upon another. Shawnee entered the agreement when PCDA provided the city with about $3.8 million of the bonds left so the city could build an updated water treatment plant and begin using water from the reservoir. The total project cost of 21 million dollars breaks down into two parts.  3.2 million dollars came from federal funding, and the other 18 million comes from “water user’s money”. 

The federal funding came with caveats and that is to comply with the operation and maintenance requirement of the USDA and National Resource Conservation Service to maintain at all times a clean, safe environment for the patrons. In order to accomplish the task you must have personnel and equipment which costs money. Personnel and equipment used to accomplish this compliance order is paid for by “user fees”.

The initial intent was for the City of Shawnee to operate and maintain the lake according to the agreement with the National Resource Conservation Service. This was included in the original securities agreement, only to be changed when Shawnee didn’t want this responsibility at that time, thus the responsibility fell back to the PCDA.

Last summer, the authority ran into some issues with its budget and needed the cities of Tecumseh and Shawnee to help make up the projected shortfall. PCDA was able to request the two cities pay the amount of the lacking revenue due to agreements that were made several years prior between the three entities. Shawnee was to pay 85 percent of the shortfall and Tecumseh was to pay 15 percent, if the need arose. The request brought the city budget to the attention of city managers who claimed surprise at learning the annual budget allocated to the PDCA was $100,000.

Over the course of ten years the PCDA exhausted what was left of a $225,000 reserve from the bonds along with over $100,000 from the Cities of Shawnee and Tecumseh, plus revenues from fees charged at the lake. The PCDA had kept the lake as they described it “pristine”.  The fees they charged were exorbitant and out of reach for the best part of the population. So it is understandable that Shawnee city commissioners approved transfer of Wes Watkins Reservoir recreational operations and management to the city of McLoud, beginning July 1, 2010.

As of July 1 the lake facilities “will be open all the time.” The gate fee will drop completely and all prices currently in effect will be dropping according to McLoud City Manager Larry Dillon. Dillon was also was heard to say that those who have annual permits at the lake will still have those honored, although no refunds will be issued. He said after July 1, he intends to have annual fishing permits available at City Hall, or from a lake or park ranger, for $45 each.


Dillon also said fishing at the lake “won’t be all catch and release,” although there will be some guidelines to what can be removed from the lake and what must be put back.
Wes Watkins Lake has 27 RV hookups, with electric and water available and 33 primitive camping areas and restrooms. The recreation area is located on the north side of the lake. With features like pavilions with grills, picnicking, swimming, boating and skiing.

In Conclusion, Shebolith Says…she will recommend a visit to Wes Watkins Lake to all her out-of-town visitors. And she encourages the locals to note the new fee schedule and management by the City of McLoud and give the lake another opportunity to become a favorite recreational destination.