WesWatkinsReservoir is approximately seven feet below the overflow level of 1074 feet above sea level.
Although, we have drawn water from WesWatkinsReservoir at various flows since time completion of the raw water line, we are not taking water from that lake at the present.
We do not plan to take water from WesWatkinsReservoir until we have operated the ozone equipment for a brief time to check its ability to treat the Twin Lakes water.
Vice Mayor Linda Peterson pressed Collard to explain why water from the WesWatkins isn’t being taken into consideration in the rationing plan and Commissioner Tom Claybrook told the city manager the public isn’t likely to understand because people were repeatedly told that building the WesWatkinsReservoir would solve Shawnee’s water problems.
Collard said the water from WesWatkins is clean water but does have the high THM problem.
Collard said his bullet points would be (1) the city is not in crisis now, (2) WesWatkins was a good decision, (3) WesWatkins water is clean but has difficulty meeting new regulatory requirements and (4) WesWatkins remains a failsafe for the city.
ZoomInfo Web Summary: Joe Taron(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-03)
In 1977, Taron was a founding member and chairman of the PCDA, a group assembled to accomplish long-range water planning for the county.
As a result of Taron's strong support, construction began on WesWatkinsReservoir with an agreement by Shawnee and Tecumseh to purchase the water, and initial funding from the sale of $21 million in bonds.
WesWatkinsReservoir officially opened in 1999 after 22 years of planning and six trips to Washington, D.C., by Taron.
Mary Fowler, who's with the lake office at WesWatkins, once witnessed a man bringing in a 4-pound crappie, and attests to having seen several other crappie that weighed 3 pounds or better.
WesWatkins anglers and boaters are required to pay an access fee of $6 a boat and $6 to fish.
This may seem outrageous to some anglers, but some of the fish caught at WesWatkins are outrageous as well.
The city has had trouble treating water from WesWatkins and Claybrook said the commission would need to know how much reliable water it is dealing with.
Collard said the state says WesWatkins has a reliable yield of 1.8 million gallons a day, giving the city a reliable yield of about 5.7 million gallons a day counting Twin Lakes water.
Commissioner Bob Downing noted that Tecumseh owns 15 percent of the WesWatkins water, meaning that Shawnee’s potential yield from that source is about 1.5 million gallons a day.
From the laughter of children, to the splash of fish, to the roar of a jet ski, Shawnee Twin Lakes and WesWatkinsReservoir offers year round recreation with a family atmosphere.
WesWatkinsReservoir, predicted to be one of the state's premier bass fishing sites, has 27 RV hookups with electric and water available, 33 primitive camping areas and restrooms.
The recreation area, located on the north side of the lake, features pavilions with grills, picnicking, swimming, boating and skiing.
Test your skills at one of our championship golf courses, or fill your day shopping the mall and browsing antique and craft shops downtown.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Shawnee Twin Lakes and WesWatkinsReservoir are ideal for camping, swimming, fishing and skiing.
WesWatkinsReservoir also is a fisherman's heaven, with underwater roadbeds and railroad tracks, and miles of creek channels that provide excellent fishing.
City Manager Terry Powell stated that the rules and regulations governing recreational activities on WesWatkinsReservoir were forwarded to the City Commission for discussion and their recommendations would be made to the Pottawatomie County Development Authority (PCDA).
It was the consensus of the Commission that the access fees were high and that personal watercraft should be allowed with a maximum speed limit of 45 mph.
Next, a motion was made by Vice Mayor Downing, seconded by Commissioner Claybrook, to approve the WesWatkinsReservoir rules and regulations excluding the access fees, prohibiting personal watercraft, and speed limits.
Visit Shawnee | Museums & Culture(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-03)
Shawnee Twin Lakes and WesWatkinsReservoir
The Shawnee Municipal Airport also offers fixed-based operators dedicated to providing full service to the general aviation, t-hangars, corporate hangars, bulk storage, tie-downs complete interior and exterior and an instrument landing system (ILS, MALSR, GS/LOC, PAPI, GPS).
Originally designed as Shawnee's major water supply, the citizens of Shawnee voted in October 1995 to make Shawnee Lake No. 1 a local recreational facility.
www.visitshawnee.com /acti_muse.html (2210 words)
Kids Day with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-03)
Sponsors of the program include Arvest Bank of Shawnee, Bass Tubs of Oklahoma owners and professional fishermen Jason Reynolds and Chuck Devereaux.
The event will be held at the WesWatkinsReservoir - take exit 176 off of Interstate 40, follow the signs - on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 9:30 a.m.
Media are invited to attend the event to obtain interviews and information about the program.