Lori Presnell, center, creator of Otto Otter, stands between two Otto Otter costumes at Grand Coulee Dam’s visitor center.
Grand Coulee Dam, Wash. — As a kid, Lori Presnell spent a lot of time on the water—beaches, lakes, fishing trips, junior lifeguards, and swim team. Her mother, ironically, was afraid of the water because she couldn’t swim. But Lori always felt comfortable around it, thanks to fond memories with her father and brother at local recreational facilities.
In 1975, the Columbia Basin Water Safety Council held a water safety mascot drawing contest at Hiawatha Elementary School in Othello, Washington. Lori submitted a drawing of Otto Otter wearing a red, white, and blue swimsuit with stars on the bottom—an outfit inspired by her own swim team uniform.
Her design won and she received a letter in the mail that invited her to the Water Safety Council’s picnic, where she was recognized and photographed with Washington County Commissioner “French” O’Donnell. From there, Lori was invited to ride on the Otto Otter float in local parades and received mementos from the council, including coloring books, stickers, and letters. At that time, she thought Otto was just a small-town figure. She had no idea how far the design would go.
Decades later, living in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori came across a post celebrating the 50th birthday of Otto Otter for Reclamation’s #OttoOtter50 campaign. Otto had become the face of water safety not just in central Washington, but across the western United States.
“I didn’t know Otto was still around after all these years. Seeing his national reach is truly amazing,” Presnell said. “After looking at the website, I just started bawling like a fourth grader.”
As Reclamation celebrates Otto Otter’s 50th birthday and the program’s continued evolution, Lori’s story reminds us how a simple drawing—and a deep respect for water—can have a lasting impact.
To mark the milestone, Reclamation is unveiling a new Otto Otter design and launching a social media road trip highlighting major hydropower projects across the West. Communities can follow Otto’s journey on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
To learn more about the Otto Otter Water Safety Program, visit CPN Region Canal Safety Program | Bureau of Reclamation.
