You won’t be left high and dry if your Fourth of July plans include a trip to a lake in northeastern Oklahoma. 

Amanda Palmer, a natural resource specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa Division, tells us most of their reservoirs in our area are either at or just below normal.

Palmer says there are two exceptions. 

She says Ft. Gibson Reservoir and Skiatook lake are both well below normal.

Palmer says Ft. Gibson is two feet below normal and Skiatook is a whopping seven feet below normal.

Ft. Gibson is being kept below normal on purpose while work is done on some of the gates. 

Skiatook on the other hand just hasn’t had much rain in its watershed.

The low water is more than just a hazard for boaters. 

Palmer says they’ve also had to shut down the Tall Chief Cove swimming area at Skiatook because of the low water levels.

The Corps also has some advice to keep this holiday a happy one if you’re on or near a lake. 

Palmer says boaters need to have a life jacket handy and the adults need to keep an eye on the kids. 

She also says something that is more figurative than literal but is still sound advice:  Water and alcohol don’t mix.