A new study ranks Lake Wichita as the third most polluted lake in the US
The study was released by Lake.com, a vacation rental platform that used data from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, which is part of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The findings show that Lake Wichita has an odor, contains high volumes of dissolved solids, an unusually high pH of 9.9, and chemical analyzes show that the water near the dam is the turbidest of all 276 U.S. lakes sampled in samples between January 1, 2023 and May. 28 this year.
The pH level indicates that the lake is acidic.
The assessment is one that lake supporter David Coleman disagrees with and finds the term “filthier” misleading.
Coleman is a member of the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee that has worked since 2013 to improve the lake and its image. Much of the Wichita Falls District Trail has been extended around the lake, a kayak launch was built, veterans’ memorials were erected on the shore, and the parking lot at Lake Wichita Park was repaired.
Coleman said the study was conducted at a time when water was very low due to an ongoing drought.
“If the same measurements were taken now with the lake full, it would be very different, especially pH, dissolved solids and turbidity,” he said.
He also said that because the lake does not provide drinking water, it is not maintained as a reservoir and has accumulated clay and silt, which make the water brown or cloudy.
Many of the lake’s chronic problems are due to low water levels.
The city is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a plan to dredge and possibly deepen part of the lake in a cost-sharing arrangement, which could alleviate many of the problems.
Coleman said the city may know in September if the plan will move forward.
The construction of Lake Wichita was completed in 1901 as a water supply for Wichita Falls, but the needs of a growing city soon exceeded the capacity of the small reservoir and additional reservoirs were built.
The lake served as a major recreational and tourist attraction for years before silt, drought and algae took their toll and the lake declined.
Lake Wichita is one of three lakes in Texas on the “dirty lakes” study list.
Lake JB Thomas in West Texas ranked second-most polluted in the nation because its dissolved oxygen measurements were below acceptable levels, and Lake Buchanan near Austin ranked sixth-worst, also because of dissolved oxygen measurements.
Florida topped the “cleanest lakes” list with six of the top 10.
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