Water is in Zink Lake, at least for the moment. Tulsa's running joke has to do with running water - or lack thereof - in the Arkansas River.

In its natural state, the river's flow of water fluctuates between an all-out flood and a trickle, depending on the time of year and the rains and snow melts upstream.

With the dam in disrepair over the past year, Mother Nature once again took control and more often than not the broad river bed has been mostly empty.

The "lake" on the river, south of the Cyrus Avery Memorial 11th Street Bridge, is the result of a low-water dam near the Katy Railroad pedestrian bridge near 29th Street. Normally, the dam holds just enough water to make our river actually look like a river in the two mile stretch between the two bridges.

Temporary repairs to the dam have put water back into Zink Lake but emphasis should be put on the word "temporary." Although the dam gate is once again operable, leaky seals and valves require more repairs.

And while the band-aid approach works for now, Tulsa city and county officials and citizens need to get serious about the future of the Arkansas River as a recreation and economic development source for our community.

Studies have been done over time at several levels to indicate the great potential of developing the river and its banks.

More low-water dams are in the plans to put more water in the river both upstream and downstream from Zink Lake and to provide development opportunities across Tulsa County. Riverside developments are contemplated along the West Bank and other areas.

Money is the only thing needed, besides water, to make the river work for the citizens of Tulsa County.

Let's not be satisfied with a band-aid approach. Let's keep river development on course and make sure it happens sooner than later.