July 2026 Corps Camper by lakeeufaulaassociation

Avoiding Thunderstorms While Boating

By: Ryan Parisotto

One of the most serious dangers posed to the recreational boater is the thunderstorm. Boaters need to learn to anticipate and react to storms, so that they can preserve the safety of themselves and their passengers. Boaters are especially vulnerable to storms because so much recreational boating is done during the summer months, when violent storms can arise quickly. Thankfully, technological advances have made avoiding dangerous thunderstorms easy with a little foresight and preparation. Before taking a boat any considerable distance away from shore, one should always check a local weather forecast. In many places, the local forecast will include information specifically for boaters. Also, many boats are now equipped with VHF radio, on which there are usually frequent local weather reports. Some of the most pertinent information for boaters is temperature, wind

direction, wind speed, wave height, tide schedule, and barometric pressure. Every boater should learn to use this information to determine whether a planned boating trip is advisable. Following the above guidelines, you should be able to avoid most storms. In the event, however, that you are caught off-guard or cannot get back to shore in time, make sure that everyone on the boat is wearing an appropriate personal flotation device. Then, slow the boat down and direct it such that the bow is at a slight angle to the waves. Everyone on board should stay low and in the middle of the boat, as this will reduce the severity of any leaning. Finally, if you believe that the boat is drifting dangerously fast due to severe wind or current, drop a sea anchor or bucket to create some natural drag. In general, try to remain calm and move slowly towards the closest safe harbor or lee shore.

By Park Ranger Adam Cocke

Have you ever wondered what these weird looking pods are that hang from trees? What you are looking at could be what is known as a Bagworm. The bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) around here in Oklahoma usually likes to hang on evergreens and Cedar trees. The eggs of bagworms hatch in the late spring/ summer and they emerge as tiny black larvae. A cool thing is the larvae uses their silk thread as a parachute, much like a baby spider does, and travel to a new home with the wind. When they find their new home, which is usually a tree leaf, the bagworm creates a bag around themselves. When they are done creating the bag, the bagworm just hangs there on the leaf and eats. This process usually lasts all of summer into early fall. They emerge as moths and male moths are ashy-black with transparent wings. The female bagworm doesn’t actually fly and are yellow in nature.

So, you may ask can this small bagworm cause damage to tree’s and even kill the tree? The short answer is yes, the bagworm does and can kill trees if the

numbers are too much. Bagworms are usually classified at pest to our native trees, and they can harm your trees if to many get on them. Bagworms will attack more than 120 different types of trees, but they do prefer evergreens and cedar trees. On evergreens they will usually eat buds and foliage which causes the branch tips to turn brown and then die. When this happens, you have to be careful because this could be easy fire fuel and will burn really hot and fast. Deciduous trees, or trees that lose their leaves in the winter, the bagworms chew small holes into the leaves in which case could cause the tree to lose the all the leaves. This will kill the tree if this happens to much.

Campsite Courtesy Bagworms

So how would you get rid of bagworms? The easiest way is to actually cut the bags off the tree manually. This is very time consuming if there are many bagworms on the tree. But usually, people buy herbicide chemicals and spray the trees to control the bagworms. So even though bagworms can cause harm to native trees, these are just proof nature is pretty cool out there. The next time you are outside in the parks or trails, be on the look out for bagworms!

We appreciate each and every one of our campers. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding when a breaker blows or we have to cut off water to make a waterline repair. Our visitors are the best! It’s not that we don’t care, it’s that we have four maintenance men for a 600+ mile shoreline lake, and they spend all day driving from one campground to another making repairs. When something is not working correctly or is not satisfactory with your campsite, please report it to the gate attendants and they will pass it on to the maintenance personnel. While on the subject, our gate attendants are the best! They absorb most of the complaints and handle most of the problems before it ever goes any further. The rangers are incredibly busy most of the time, so we truly appreciate each and every one of our volunteers and gate attendants. Without them, doing our typical daily duties would take much longer or never get done at all. Please keep in mind that normally if there is a problem with booking, such as double booking or lost reservations, it is not the fault of the gate attendant. We understand how frustrating this is for the campers, but we appreciate your flexibility if you have to be moved to a different site. Did I mention our campers are the best?

We have the hardest working volunteers. They are spread thin and are the key to our campsite and parks cleanliness. It’s hard for them to clean all day and then come upon a campsite that has been left

with trash, dog feces, etc. Many times the volunteers have not had the chance to clean up after one camper leaves before another one checks in and finds their campsite area trashed out. We like to keep our campers and volunteers happy, so please use the provided dumpsters when you leave. This will also save you from possible citations from those pesky rangers. As tempting as it is, please do not dump your camp trash in the park restrooms. Our bathroom cleaners work as hard as our volunteers and have all of the Eufaula park bathrooms to clean. This will also save you from a possible citation.

When you catch that big one, please do not be tempted to throw the fish parts on the ground or in the dumpsters. It leaves quite a mess and the other campers have to deal with the smell when this happens. Simply return the fish parts to the water and everyone will be happy.

It is a campground rule that all dogs must be leashed. We understand that your dog is a good dog and would never hurt anyone, but we cannot discriminate. Plus, not everyone is as happy to have your dog jump on them and do their business on their camper as you are. Please think of your fellow campers and the volunteers who must clean up after them. Finally, after 10 pm until 6 am, please maintain a reasonable quiet. We understand you are here to have a good time, kick back with some friends and have fun, but other campers idea of fun may not be the same. This is but a few of our campsite rules. If you are uncertain or have a question, please pick up a copy of Title 36 from the gate shack or from the Project Office. Above all, please enjoy your stay at beautiful Lake Eufaula and come back soon.

Eufaula Lake Crappie Fishing

Oklahoma: Your Unexpected TwoWheeled Playground

Forget what you think you know about Oklahoma. That image of a flat, flyover state? Toss it out the window. For those in the know, the Sooner State is a surprisingly awesome and wonderfully diverse playground for anyone with a bicycle. It’s a place where you can conquer a mountain in the morning and cruise a skyscraper-lined river trail in the afternoon.

Ready for an adventure? Let’s take a tour. Head east, and you’ll find yourself in the rugged, forested hills of the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains. These aren’t just gentle slopes; they’re bona fide “mountain monsters” offering epic climbs and thrilling descents for the trail-shredding enthusiast. But if endless horizons are more your style, point your wheels toward the central and western parts of the state. Here, you’ll discover a gravel-grinding paradise, with a massive network of iconic red dirt roads that stretch for miles, offering a true sense of freedom and solitude.

But the fun isn’t just out in the country. Oklahoma’s cities are getting in on the

Dehydration

action in a big way. Tulsa and Oklahoma City boast fantastic, ever-expanding networks of paved trails. You can spend a day looping the scenic shores of Lake Hefner in OKC or cruising along Tulsa’s beautiful Arkansas River, with plenty of stops for coffee or a craft beer. It’s urban exploration at its best.

Maybe the best part? The vibe. Oklahoma is home to a ridiculously fun and welcoming cycling scene. The state hosts legendary events that are basically massive parties on two wheels. “Tulsa Tough” is a three-day cycling festival famous for its wild crowds and challenging climbs. And then there’s “The Mid South” in Stillwater, a world-renowned gravel race that’s as much about the post-ride celebration as it is about conquering the course.

So, whether you’re a hardcore mountain biker, a spandex-clad road warrior, or just looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday, Oklahoma has a ride for you. Dust off that bike, pump up the tires, and get ready to be surprised. Your next great cycling adventure is waiting right here, in America’s heartland.

We have had a lot of rain lately which has kept the temperature down but the rain is moving out and the sun is coming out which means more hot weather. With days already averaging in the mid-90s we are certainly in the full swing of summer. These hot summer days mean a greater chance of dehydration. The Webster’s Dictionary defines dehydration as an abnormal depletion of body fluids. This means that your body is losing more water and fluids than you are replacing them with. Something that many people do not think about, especially when it is hot and humid, is that you will actually sweat more and are losing more fluids. This is also the same if you are out on the lake on a boat with your family or friends, the wind or breeze and water around you will cause you to become more dehydrated than you might think.

To avoid dehydration the best thing that you can do is drink water. The saying goes “if you are thirsty then you are already dehydrated.” If you were

to stay inside the average person needs to drink 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water each day to stay hydrated. But if you are going to be outside during the main part of the day you need to be drinking even more than this. Now some people may not like drinking water or it may not be their favorite thing. This is alright; there are many natural ways to flavor your water. There are also items such as Gatorade and Propel which have electrolytes in them that can be used to rehydrate a person and can be used to avoid becoming dehydrated. However, drinking things such as soda and coffee has actually been shown to dehydrate a person even more so you will want to avoid these. As long as you are constantly drinking water throughout the day, at least some every 30 minutes or so you then you should be able to stay hydrated. Everybody is different so you will have to adjust your water intake depending on your age, size, and weight.

Wildlife of Eufaula Lake

Eufaula Lake is the largest lake in Oklahoma at 105,500 surface acres and reaching into four different counties (Haskell, Okmulgee, McIntosh, and Pittsburg). This expansive reach gives Lake Eufaula a wide range to host a variety of animals. The list of wild animals to be on the lookout for include Chuck-Wills-Widows, Summer Tanagers, Bald Eagles, Whitetail Deer, and even American Black Bears.

Birds can be found all around Lake Eufaula and certain species are more common is specific areas of the lake. One of the most common birds you will hear as you are going to sleep while camping at Lake Eufaula is the ChuckWills-Widow. It can be distinguishable due to its call that sounds similar to if you were to whistle its name. They are commonly found all around the lake. Summer Tanagers on the other hand are a little more scarce in the area but are beautiful and fun to watch. Recently I spotted a breeding pair near Elm Point campground. This species can be identi-

fied by their colors as the male is bright red, similar to a male Cardinal, while the female is yellow. Neither of these colors are found in our next bird species, The Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle adults can easily be identified by their vibrant white heads in contrast to their dark colored bodies. Juveniles are a little harder to identify due to their drab coloration. Bald Eagles can be found all around the lake but are most commonly seen near the Eufaula Dam and Porum Landing campground.

Many mammals call Lake Eufaula home, but none are more iconic or widespread than that of the Whitetail Deer. Whitetail Deer can be seen in most, if not all our campgrounds and while driving roads around the lake. This time of year, the male deer, referred to as bucks, are in the process of growing their antlers for the upcoming breeding season. You may see a buck that has soft and fuzzy looking antlers, this is called velvet, and is the growth of new antlers for these deer. This vel-

vet will grow until August when it begins to harden and then will start to dry and fall off or be rubbed off by the buck in September leaving behind the sharp antlers for the breeding season. The female deer, known as does, do not have antlers. Neither male nor female of this next mammal have antlers, the American Black Bear. The American Black Bear is a species that has a small population across the state; However, the largest population of black bears in Oklahoma reside South of I-40 and East of US-69, which encompasses a large section of Lake Eufaula. In past years there have been confirmed Black Bear sightings in Checotah, North of Belle Starr campground, and in McAlester, South of Elm Point campground. Black Bears can be identified by their large size and their brown, drab, or black fur.

Wildlife can be found all over Lake Eufaula. Wildlife can be seen from campgrounds, hiking, driving, fishing, or any other outdoor activities. All you have to do is get out there and enjoy nature.

-Natural Resource Specialist Andrew Douglas

Protecting Our Feathered Friends at Eufaula Lake

- Park Ranger Springer Spring and summer bring an abundance of wildlife to Eufaula Lake, including many species of birds. From soaring eagles to playful waterfowl, these feathered visitors rely on our lake and shoreline habitats for food, shelter, and nesting.

You can help protect them by keeping a safe distance, especially during nesting season. Avoid disturbing nests or feeding wild birds because human food can harm them and encourage unhealthy behavior. Binoculars and cameras are perfect for enjoying birds without getting too close.

Shoreline stewardship matters too. Keep trash and fishing line out of the water because both can entangle birds and other wildlife. Even small actions, like picking up litter or staying on designated trails, make a big difference.

By respecting wildlife and their habitats, we ensure Eufaula Lake remains a thriving home for generations of birds and a beautiful place for us to enjoy them.

Playing in Traﬃc: The Hidden Dangers of Boat Ramps

By Hannah Sue Hulpke, Park Ranger

Would you let your kids play in the middle of a busy highway intersection? Of course not! Yet, on hot summer days at Lake Eufaula, we often see families splashing around right next to public boat ramps. While the cool water looks inviting, a boat ramp is a high-traffic utility zone. Treating it like a swimming pool is just as dangerous as playing in traffic.

Many visitors argue, “I’ll just step out of the way when a boat comes.” But circumstances change quickly. Drivers backing trailers down steep ramps have massive blind spots and captains approaching the lanes are busy battling wind, currents, and trailer alignment. Add in the unseen danger of a boat’s underwater, spinning propeller—which can cause catastrophic harm even at idle speed—and the risk just isn’t worth it!

Even when the ramp is completely quiet and no boats are in sight, the ramp itself is full of hidden traps. The underwater concrete is often coated in a superslick layer of algae, making slips and falls incredibly common. Furthermore, boat ramps do not slope gradually forever; there is typically a sudden, steep drop-off at the very end of the concrete pad where the shallow water instantly plunges into the deep.

These active launch zones are also magnets for underwater debris. Lost fishing tackle, broken glass, and sharp metal tend to accumulate right where you might step. Wading barefoot here is a quick way to trade a fun lake day for a trip to the emergency room. Additionally, playing, fishing, or loitering near the lanes between boats slows the launching process, creating frustrating delays for everyone trying to get on or off the water. Swimming and wading are also strictly prohibited at all USACE boat ramps.

We want everyone to have a fun, memorable, and safe summer at Lake Eufaula. Let’s work together to keep our public boat ramps clear, safe, and efficient. When it is time to cool off, grab your life jacket and head over to our designated swim beaches. Unlike ramps, our swim beaches are clearly buoyed off to keep boats out, giving you a headache-free place to splash. Leave the ramps for the boats and keep the swimming at the beach!