Oklahoma!
1998 Proclamation of the Governor
Press Release
Volunteers Support Lakes Appreciation Week
June 28-July 4,1998
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma Water Watch volunteers are excited that Governor Frank Keating encouraged Oklahomans to treat the state’s abundance of lakes and streams with special respect by declaring Oklahoma Lakes Appreciation Week June 28-July 4. Efforts in Oklahoma will focus on raising awareness of the value and importance of the state’s water resources, including volunteer monitoring efforts.
Lakes Appreciation Week will coincide with the Fifth Annual Great American Secchi Dip-In, sponsored by the North American Lakes Management Society and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The event calls on citizen volunteer monitoring groups to measure water clarity with a simple device called a Secchi disk. The OWRB, Oklahoma Water Watch Volunteer Monitoring groups and the Oklahoma Clean Lakes Association will assist in the Secchi Disk Dip-in.
The Secchi Dip-In is just one of the many events that members participate in every year. Citizens are also encouraged to participate in Oklahoma Lake Sweep, an anti-litter campaign focusing on litter and its impact on water quality. Communities are given the opportunity to organize and host a trash pick-up at their local lake while raising community awareness of the need for responsible trash disposal among recreational users of Oklahoma’s water ways. Funding for the event is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of Environment, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Julie
Cunningham
Water
Quality Programs
Division
Oklahoma Water Resources
Board
405-530-8800
June 28, 1998
PROCLAMATION
Whereas,
Oklahoma has more than 630,000 acres of publicly owned lakes providing drinking
water, flood protection, navigation,
generation of hydropower;
and
Whereas, Oklahoma’s lakes are valuable resources and aesthetically
enjoyable for swimming, boating, fishing and many other
recreational
activities, as well as improving the quality of life in the state;
and
Whereas, Oklahomans have demonstrated intense interest in monitoring,
assessing and restoring water quality in the state’s lakes
through generously
contributing time to Oklahoma Water Watch Volunteer Monitoring Program and the
Annual Lakes Water Quality
Assessment; and
Whereas volunteers
participate in numerous other beautification activities such as Oklahoma Lake
Sweep to rid Oklahoma’s scenic lake
sites of trash and litter;
and
Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will focus on
pristine waters in the Great American Secchi Dip-in, and the North
American
Lakes Management Society will sponsor National Lakes Appreciation Week June 28
through July 4;
Whereas, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the
Oklahoma Clean Lakes Association enthusiastically join the effort in
promoting
precious lake resources,
Now, Therefore, I, Frank Keating,
Governor of the State of Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim the week of June 28
through July 4, 1998 as
OKLAHOMA LAKES APPRECIATION WEEK
in the
State of Oklahoma.
In Witness Whereof, .....etc.
For more information on the Great American Secchi Dip-In, contact Bob Carlson at: RCarlson@kent.edu or write
Great American Secchi Dip-InUpdated: June 19, 2006