Friends of Lake Hefner

Summer Fading

2010-09-06T21:49:00.002-05:00

The sun is setting earlier at Lake Hefner but its been a great summer!! Tens of thousands have enjoyed the lake and surrounding area. The trails continue to have relentless action. Races, regattas, fishing derbies, and many other events have occurred. Trees have been planted, a biodiversity study is ongoing, PlanOKC is working with FOLH to develop a long term plan for Lake Hefner. Also, the hatchery was saved!!!!! Thank You OKC city council!!!!!

2010-05-26T22:02:00.003-05:00

SAVE THE HATCHERY!! CALL YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE!!!
Important facts to relate to them!!

*The hatchery costs $160,000.00 per year, but it can be run on $140,000.00
*Anglers bought 1804 City permits in 2008 totaling $140,640.00 which could pay for the hatchery.
*Retail sales from fishing was $14,825,937.00.
*Retail sales tax from fishing was $610,696.00 from state and $574,241.00 city.
*168 median wage retail jobs were supported by fishing in 2008.
*Hatchery staff cost is matched annually by a $3 to $1 federal grant totaling $210,000.00
for fishing related infrastructure in OKC
*State wildlife department provides the hatchery 1.2 million hatchlings to raise for the Lakes
Hefner, Overholser, Draper, and 13 smaller ones annually.
*Losing the cost for maintaing fishing stocks would be $500,000.00 annually. (not happening!!)
*****LOSING THE HATCHERY MEANS LOSING MOST OF THE FISH, A LOT OF THE
RETAIL SALES AND PERMITS, AND ALL OF THE $210,000.00 ANNUALLY!!!!!

Winter Beauty At The Lake

2010-02-11T20:21:00.002-06:00

An unusually cold and wet winter has slowed action at Lake Hefner. However the lake is quite full and the spring thaw is just around the corner!! Soon we will all be enjoying the trails, trees, animals and the wind!!!! Check the FOLH calendar to keep up with the events that affect the Lake and trails!!

New Sidewalks Link Trails To Paw Park

2009-09-04T22:08:00.001-05:00

New sidewalks are being constructed connecting Paw Park to the Lake Hefner trails on the south side of the lake. Also, sidewalks are being put in on the median of Grand Boulevard connecting the trails to Nichols Hills.

The Redman Triathalon will utilize the trails and dominate the northeast corner of the lake at the Hefner and Britton road access sites on September 19th!! Plan accordingly

Have fun!! Be safe!! Be considerate!!

Construction And Remodeling Around The Lake

2009-06-13T16:58:00.004-05:00

A new parking lot and pedestrian trail are being built at Pat Murphy Park below the dam. The park department says the construction will be complete in 2-3 months. The Bluff Creek mountain biking trails will not be affected.
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There is also action at Stars and Stripes Park where they are redoing the Eisenhower Plaza.
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With summer coming on the trails are getting tremendous usage. PLEASE be considerate and courteous. The Lake Hefner trails is not the place to make a new personal speed record. Take talk sessions off the trails.

The Friends of Lake Hefner Monthly Meetings

2009-04-06T11:36:00.007-05:00

The Friends of Lake Hefner Board of Directors hold their monthly board meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Oklahoma City Boat Club facility on the south side of the East Wharf area of Lake Hefner at 7:00 pm.

All Members of the Friends of Lake Hefner and the General Public,
as always are welcome to attend any of the meetings.

We value your input and hope to see you there.

Click Here - for a Map to the OKC Boat Club

Ground Breaking and Tree Planting Ceremony

2009-02-03T13:34:00.008-06:00

Our Tree Planting Ground Breaking Ceremony will be on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 3:30 pm.

We had been talking about an initial planting of 40 trees for the first phase of our project, but the response from lake volunteers and contributors has made it possible to start with twice that number.

This ground breaking will be an opportunity to thank in person, the City Council, Water Trust, Parks and Planning commissioners and staff who made all this possible

The ground breaking ceremony will be in the trail area south of the parking lot located at the south end of East Lake Hefner Drive.

Take East Lake Hefner Drive south from Brittain Rd, past the East Wharf restaurants and the Oklahoma City Boat Club, to where it ends at Children's Plaground parking area.

Here is a link to a map to the parking area

Arrive as early as possible from 3:00 to 3:30

Friends of Lake Hefner starts year with gift of 80 trees

2009-01-21T12:43:00.002-06:00

Friends of Lake Hefner starts the year with a gift of 80 trees for the lake...and other news.

We have been talking about an initial planting of 40 trees for the first phase of our project, but the response from lake volunteers and contributors has made it possible to start with twice that number.

If your organization would like to help on this project with volunteers or a small donation, it will make a huge difference to the efficiency and timing of our watering effort. Contact us by e-mail at resources@lakehefner.org. Remember, donations are deductible.

We plan to have the ground breaking ceremony and the planting during the third week in February.

Our ground breaking will be an opportunity to thank in person, the City Council, Water Trust, Parks and Planning commissioners and staff who made all this possible. The exact date and time need to be coordinated with Oklahoma City so as many of these people can attend as possible. Please watch this blog for the date and notify your members so all of Lake Hefner's friends can participate.

Saturday, May 2, 2009 has been selected as the date for the Annual Lake Hefner Cleanup.

Please put that date on your calendar and bring your family friends out to help us clean up around Lake Hefner. You will be hearing more about events planned for this day soon.

Two City projects were discussed at the Friends of Lake Hefner January 2009 meeting. The first is a long planned modification of the fishing pier north of Municipal Harbor which complies with the Lake Hefner Plan and is supported by the FOLH board. The second is to extend fiber optice cable from the fire station north to the communications tower. The City reports this project will not interfere with, or pose a hazzard to the trail.

Annual Lake Hefner Cleanup

2008-12-18T16:12:00.005-06:00

Saturday, May 2, 2009 has been picked as the date for the Annual Lake Hefner Cleanup

Please put that date on your calendar and you and your family come out and help us clean up around Lake Hefner