FARGO, ND – Low water levels on area lakes are creating serious hazards for boaters this season, as unseen obstacles normally buried deep underwater are suddenly claiming propellers and lower units. On many busy lakes, low water levels at the access force anglers to put on hip boots or waders just to push their boats off the trailer and into deep enough water. Beyond the mechanical risks, low water combined with persistent summer heat is dramatically altering fish behavior across local lakes. With surface temperatures hovering around 82 to 83 degrees, oxygen levels in deep water basins are plummeting, pushing species like walleye and crappie into surprisingly shallow depths. “I really think it’s an oxygen thing… there’s no oxygen in deep water,” Carney explained.