State Briefs: Fish kill said to be natural

Published: May 26, 2009

WOODWARD

Fish kill said to be natural

State wildlife officials say a large fish kill discovered last week at a lake in Woodward was due to low oxygen levels and the result of natural causes. John Stahl, the northwest regional fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said fish biologist Ty Harper investigated the incident at Crystal Beach Lake and noted that "the water clarity was like that of strong iced tea.” That is indicative of a natural phenomenon known as a plankton bloom. Plankton are microscopic plants and animals that are the basis of the food chain in water, and an overabundance of the organisms interferes with their ability to photosynthesize, especially on cloudy days.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Crystal Dig is reopening

A grand re-opening ceremony of the Crystal Dig area at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. and a crystal digging contest for all ages will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are needed to teach visitors how to dig selenite crystals during the contest. Call (580) 626-4794 or e-mail

Rebeccawolff@fws.gov to volunteer. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

SKIATOOK

$4.7M park is planned

Skiatook city leaders say plans are being formulated to build

a $4.7 million park that will cover

almost 10 acres to try to feature the Osage Prairie Trail. The park would offer a variety of activities for those visiting

the area.

ASSOCIATED PRESS