Zink Lake And Whitewater Flume Opening Soon, City Emphasizes Safety

Tulsa's Zink Lake and a whitewater flume will open in about a week, and the city wants people to consider the risks that come with swimming there. With the inherent dangers around water, PFDs and helmets are recommended for kayakers.

Water quality issues are also a concern, and monitoring is ongoing. Work on the shoreline continues to create better access to the river, just over a week before thousands are expected to visit.

Benches have been added to the pedestrian bridge, and the gates are up on the dam, forming Zink Lake. Warning signs urge people in the water to stay back from the dam, although some fishermen are still venturing out.

“We highly recommend people wear a PFD and helmet,” said Vernon Seaman of INCOG.

At a City Council meeting discussing water safety, River Parks and INCOG officials insisted that Zink Lake is as safe as any river in the state, with better water quality monitoring than most. An online dashboard shows river conditions and bacteria counts, and officials recommend against swimming.

“Don’t go to the river with a beach blanket and think you’re going to do laps—that’s not what it’s designed for,” Seaman said.

INCOG experts acknowledged that construction is adding sediment to the river, but said that will improve with time. City Councilor Jayme Fowler raised concerns about oil in the river, citing several unplugged oil wells.

However, INCOG says testing hasn’t found oil, and federal maps show just three known orphaned oil wells in the river channel.

“If you have found unplugged oil wells leaking into the river, I assure you that the Corporation Commission and DEQ would respond quickly,” Seaman said.

River Parks officials continue to urge people to consider their own risk if they enter the water and take common-sense precautions.