Lake Altus in southwest Oklahoma is full for the first time in seven years, the Altus Irrigation District said.

With inflow continuing and more rain forecast, one flood control gate was opened in late May. Water also was flowing over an uncontrolled spillway.

Ross Adkins, a spokesman for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said 38 lakes in the corps’ Tulsa District, which takes in Oklahoma and parts of Texas and Kansas, are all full. In some cases, the normal conservation pool has been exceeded and lake levels extend to flood-control levels.

This stands in stark contrast to the drought situation that was in effect for the last two years.

“All of our lakes were down anywhere as low as 60 and 70 percent of the normal pool,” Adkins said.

Heavy rainfall late last year and early this year essentially ended the drought in the state.

Source: www.sapulpadailyherald.com