Lawton, Okla. — Concerns are rising among residents of Lawton as numerous dead fish have been discovered floating in Liberty Lake, triggering worries about environmental health and safety. Local authorities, however, indicate that this occurrence might not be as alarming as it appears, attributing the fish deaths to natural causes generally seen during this time of the year.
City and state wildlife experts explain that such incidents tend to happen annually, particularly in bodies of shallow water like Liberty Lake. Larry Parks, Director of Lawton’s Parks and Recreation, noted that although this is a typical event, the phenomenon has manifested earlier than usual this year due to unusually high temperatures.
“The occurrence of fish deaths peaks annually, usually once in early spring and then again in late summer. This year, the severe heat accelerated the process,” Parks explained.
Ryan Ryswyk, a representative from the Oklahoma Department of Conservation, supported this explanation by stating that fish fatalities during the warmer months are not uncommon and often result from low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. He noted that warm water holds less oxygen than cold water and the boosting mercury further undermines the aquatic environment, making it difficult for fish to survive.
Contributing factors include the decay of algae and aquatic plants, which also consume significant amounts of oxygen, further depleting the already limited supply available to the fish, Ryswyk added.
Despite the disturbing sight, city officials have urged the public to refrain from attempting to handle the situation themselves. Instead, specially assigned crews are already in place, conducting cleanup operations to remove the dead fish from the lake twice daily.
“We have a dedicated team tasked with this and we kindly ask our citizens to leave the retrieval to us,” Parks urged.
Beyond addressing the immediate concerns over the fish die-off, city officials have outlined plans for enhancements at Lake Liberty Park, which includes erosion control and sidewalk maintenance. These improvements are slated to begin soon, alongside additional upgrades that hinge on the fate of the upcoming CIP 2040 plan, suggesting broader initiatives aimed at enhancing community and recreational spaces.
Parks remains optimistic about the future of the park and its role in the community. “We encourage everyone to continue reaching out to us with their concerns. We are committed to not just addressing this issue but also to the broader improvement of the park facilities,” he said.
In the meantime, communication lines remain open between city officials and the public, ensuring that community feedback continues to shape the ongoing and future stewardship of Liberty Lake and its surrounding park area.