By Chris Hannaford

Enid Lake Park Ranger

Recreational Activities

On November 1, Water Valley Campground, Woodpile Loop in Wallace Creek, and the Hickory Ridge and Persimmon Hill Day Use Areas will close.

Class A camping will be available at Wallace Creek, Persimmon Hill, and Chickasaw Hill Campgrounds. Class C camping will be available at Long Branch, and Plum Point Campgrounds.

Also beginning November 1, the off season rates will go into effect for camping. Rates will be $10 and $12 at Wallace Creek and Persimmon Campgrounds depending on site location, $10 at Chickasaw Hill, and $5 at Plum Point and Long Branch Campgrounds.

Enid Lake Personnel would also like to remind all of the fall visitors to keep safety in mind while participating in the fall activities.

Those enjoying the fall fishing or those just enjoying a pleasant day on the lake, we would like to remind you that Enid Lake continues it’s annual draw down of the lake, and potential hazards may become present during the lower lake levels, which do not normally exist during the higher recreation pool levels.

These hazards can be stumps, mud flats and shallow water. Use extreme caution when navigating, and always wear your personal floatation device.

For those who enjoy hiking or those preparing for the upcoming hunting season, pay close attention where you step while traveling through the dense thickets or along the edge of the trails over the next couple of weeks. Snake bites and yellow jacket stings always end a perfect day in the woods.

For those who enjoy the wildlife viewing platform at the Springdale Wildlife Management Area, we would like to remind you of the Springdale Wildlife Management Area Deer Hunt, which runs from October 24 – November 20. When venturing into the outdoors during the hunting season be sure and wear hunters orange at all times.

World Water

Monitoring Day

Enid Lake hosted its Annual World Water Monitoring Day Wednesday, October 15.

What is World Water Monitoring Day?

World Water Monitoring Day is an event designed to educate people of all ages throughout the world about the value of clean water and the role of water quality monitoring.

Park Rangers Brandy Bennett and Benjamin Pitcock along with 19 Merit Class students of Pope School spent the morning conducting four different water quality tests on water samples taken from Enid Lake.

These test included temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. Each student received a monitoring kit, took a sample of water from either the emergency spillway, outlet channel or lake and conducted the four tests.

As a bonus these students were treated to a gatehouse tour presented by Ranger Pitcock, a tour of the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery by Justin Wilkinson, Hatchery Manager, and enjoyed a walk on the Persimmon Hill Multi-Purpose Trail at Persimmon Hill with Supervisory Ranger Michael Robinson, and Park Ranger Jackie Ferrell.

Students were also treated to a hotdog cook out hosted by Park Ranger Chris Hannaford.

The Enid Lake Staff would like to thank Save-A-Lot Groceries in Batesville for donating all food items for the World Watering Monitor Day Hotdog Cook Out.