Lake Levels and Water Restrictions
Summary
Combined storage is at 74.48% and stage-one voluntary every-other-day watering could start by late October. With Lake Ellsworth down for dam rehab, another dry summer could force rationing next year.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 22, 2026.
Impact analysis
Conservation surcharges of $1.15 per thousand gallons kick in at stage three.
Conserving now delays surcharges and keeps lakes healthier for everyone.
Heavy outdoor water users would face escalating surcharges if restrictions deepen.
Mentions & discussions (2)
City Council - Sep 22, 2026
Combined storage is at 74.48% and stage-one voluntary every-other-day watering could start by late October. With Lake Ellsworth down for dam rehab, another dry summer could force rationing next year.
City Council - Mar 10, 2026
Utility staff say the city's three lakes hold about 100 billion gallons and the supply is stable for the next year. Evaporation costs the city 41 billion gallons a year - far more than the 12% actually used - and Lake Ellsworth is low mainly because of spillway construction.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Lawton
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.