Over the course of the last 10 to 

20 years, almost without notice and 

with little or no acclaim, volunteers 

have come to play a vital role for the 

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers U. S. Army Corps of Engineers 

hours cleaning up 

debris from the ice 

storms. From the 

June/July flood 

event of 2007 to 

the present, volunteers have worked 

over 48,000 hours 

at our projects across the Tulsa District. 

Most of that time was spent working to 

restore our public use areas. 

The simple value of their total volunteer labor since July 2007 is over 

$900,000 but that does not do justice to 

the true value of their effort to the Tulsa 

District, our customers, and our stakeholders. The Tulsa District operates and 

maintains over 10,000 camp sites and 

hosts millions of visitors each year. Those 

September 2008

Tulsa District

Project Update

Continued ... page 8

Over the course of the last 10 to 20 

years, almost without notice and with little or no acclaim, volunteers have come to 

play a vital role for the U. S. Army Corps 

of Engineers in the management of our 

parks on a national scale. In the beginning, they started out with small tasks 

such as tending to flower beds here and 

there a few hours per week. Over time 

their numbers and responsibilities have 

grown. In the last few years at the same 

time that Corps budgets have been more 

constrained and the size of the workforce 

has been reduced, flat lined and hired 

labor numbers have faded, the Corps 

volunteers were looking for economical 

ways to spend more time outdoors with 

nature. Many were looking for more 

ways to contribute to their country and 

all were seeking a means to supplement 

and offset the cost of using their recreational/camping vehicles for extended 

stays at the lake. It was a perfect match. 

In many instances, the Corps has provided 

camp sites in exchange for their volunteer 

labor. As more and more baby boomers 

are reaching retirement age, the potential 

volunteer labor pool is growing. Corps 

Districts across the nation logged millions 

of volunteer hours in 2007 with an estimated simple value of $41 million. The 

Tulsa District was no exception.

The Tulsa District experienced both 

record flooding and ice storms in 2007. 

Estimated damages were in the millions 

of dollars. Operation and Maintenance 

budgets did not contain adequate funds 

to make the many necessary repairs to 

restore the parks to safe and acceptable 

levels of operation for these unanticipated 

events. Once again the role of our volunteers grew in scope. No longer were 

they just watering flower beds or picking 

up a little ground litter. Now they were 

engaged in massive clean up and 

restoration efforts. 

Volunteers were 

helping the Corps to 

remove vast amounts 

of flood and ice storm debris. At many 

parks across the District, they were power 

washing toilet and shower buildings to 

remove flood deposited sediments from 

weeks of inundation. Volunteers scraped 

and painted many of our camp site amenities. They were assimilated into almost 

every repair and recovery task associated 

with the damaged public use areas. 

During the last year, our Tulsa District 

volunteers have spent over 37,000 hours 

working to clean and repair facilities 

after our flood events and almost 11,000 

Volunteers Keep Corps Parks Open

Almost without notice and 

with little or no acclaim, 

volunteers have come to 

play a vital role for the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers.

Over the courseof the last10 to

20 years,almost without notice and 

with littleor no acclaim, volunteers

have come to playavitalrole for the

U. S.Army Corps of Engineers

Colonel Funkhouser recognizes efforts of Glenn and Bobbie Wehrmann, two Lake Texoma 

volunteers.
Tulsa District Project Update 2 September 2008

The mission of the United States Army 

Corps of Engineers, the world’s preeminent 

public engineering agency, is to provide 

quality, responsive engineering services 

to the nation and its armed forces. The 

Corps plans, designs, builds and operates 

water resources projects; designs and 

manages military facility construction 

for the Army and Air Force at home and 

abroad; provides design and construction 

management support for other Defense 

and Federal agencies; cleans hazardous 

areas across the nation through the 

Formerly Used Defense Sites program 

and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial 

Action Program; and conducts state-ofthe-art engineering research and design at 

its Engineer Research and Development 

Center. 

Over its 230-year history, the Corps of 

Engineers mission has evolved. What 

began as a military engineering mission 

for the nation in the 18th Century adapted 

into a major peacetime mission in the 19th 

Century. The Corps helped develop a vast 

water resource infrastructure, initiated 

development of the first national parks, and 

linked navigable waterways together to 

move commerce across states. 

In the 20th Century, the Corps civil 

mission changed again with the 

adoption of more water resources 

development and management duties 

including flood control, hydropower, 

recreation, water supply, shore 

protection, and disaster relief. More 

recently, environmental protection and 

restoration missions were entrusted to 

the Corps. 

As society’s requirements and values 

have changed, the Corps programs 

have changed to reflect new national 

priorities. 

Corps of Engineers

Missions

Colonel Anthony Funkhouser

Commander Tulsa District

Continued ... page 3

District Commander’s Perspective

I want to thank you for reading 

this latest edition of our Tulsa District 

Project Update. This publication has the 

current status of our civil and military 

programs and happenings around our 

District. Its purpose is for you to see 

our progress as we work to support you 

and your communities. The last year has 

been very difficult for the Tulsa District 

area with record setting rains, floods, ice 

storms, and tornadoes. In this Project 

Update, we emphasize the volunteers 

and partnerships that enable us to continue to provide service to our many 

stakeholders. Without them, we would 

certainly provide lower levels of service.

We continue to serve with public 

safety and good stewardship of our 

water resources as our top priorities. 

We are very aware that the constant 

rains have impacted the economy of 

our region and, particularly, the local 

communities on the Arkansas River system. We know many of you have been 

affected and we will continue to provide 

the best service we can.

Our District will face many other 

non-weather-related challenges in the 

coming year. Our civil works budget 

will likely continue to remain flat while 

the cost of fuel and other construction 

resources continue to rise. Our dam, 

levee, and lock system infrastructure will 

continue to age and draw on our limited 

resources for major repairs. Our workforce will also be impacted as we recruit, 

train, and develop new personnel to 

replace those retiring. I have confidence 

that we will overcome these challenges 

over time. Lieutenant General Robert 

L. Van Antwerp, Chief of Engineers, 

recently described four metrics that I see 

we can use to measure our progress as 

we seek to overcome short-term challenges for long-term successes.

Deliver superior performance

Set the standard for our profession

Make a positive impact on the nation 

and other nations

Built to last as evidenced by 

our strong “bench” at all levels 

– educated, trained, competent, 

experienced, and certified

The first metric is continue to deliver 

superior performance. We must be 

an organization that is sought for its 

technical competency and its ability to 

execute and deliver projects that meet 

our partners’ needs in schedule, cost, 

and scope. We have to meet and exceed 

expectations every time. A customer 

should seek our services because of our 

reputation, experience, and high standards. We must maintain this in order to 

remain a viable option for our military 

and civil works partners. We will continue to engage our partners throughout 

all projects to ensure we deliver superior performance. We will measure 

this with our annual customer surveys 

and develop action plans to proactively 

address any shortfalls.

Secondly, we must set the standard 

for our profession. A profession is an 

organization that has education requirements, standards of certification and 

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September 2008 3 Tulsa District Project Update

Congresswoman Boyda Visits John Redmond Reservoir

Top - (left to right) Tracy Streeter, Director, Kansas Water 

Office; Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, Kansas District 2; 

Colonel Anthony Funkhouser, Tulsa District Commander; 

John Roberts, Deputy District Engineer for Project 

Management.

Left - Channel is blocked by debris.

Background - The collection of debris is a significant 

challenge to project managers.

On July 7, 2008, Colonel Anthony Funkhouser, 

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (KS-2), and Kansas 

Water Office Director Tracy Streeter met to discuss John 

Redmond Reservoir maintenance issues and the Jacobs 

Creek logjam. The group then toured the area by helicopter to get a better understanding of the ongoing challenges 

the logjam presents the community and to the project. 

licensing, and is self policing. Our 

Congressional leaders and our public 

expect us to ensure we maintain our 

core technical competencies. We will 

continue to emphasize and support 

the certification and licensing of our 

employees. We must continue to raise 

the standards of our profession and fund 

training for our employees. This will 

allow us to maintain our core engineering and other competencies and provide 

confidence to our partners. We will 

assess our success with our training and 

recruiting plans and by increasing our 

certifications and licensing.

A major metric is our measure of 

making a positive impact to our nation 

and other nations. We have been given 

the responsibility to manage our nation’s 

water resources and to maintain our 

dams, levees, and locks and to design 

and construct quality facilities for our 

Soldiers and Airmen at the six Army and 

Air Force installations within our boundaries. Based on this responsibility, we 

must ensure public safety and be a good 

steward of the resources provided to us 

from our government. We will use our 

limited resources and put them toward 

prioritized maintenance requirements to 

ensure all of our projects operate safely 

and as designed. Additionally, the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers is supporting 

the global war on terror and other major 

projects around the nation and the world. 

We continue to have selfless volunteers 

step from our ranks to temporarily support these requirements. Our measure 

of success is to continue to serve these 

requirements while we execute our 

District mission with limited personnel.

Finally, we must educate and train 

a competent, experienced, and certified 

workforce. We must build our organization to last beyond ourselves. The real 

test of our success is our legacy. We 

must continue to pursue the next generation of project managers, engineers, real 

estate and contract specialists, economists, and biologists and bring them into 

our ranks. We must train them on our 

Corps responsibilities and our processes 

to ensure they accumulate experience 

before we retire. We must work to get 

them licensed and certified so we can 

maintain the momentum. 

These metrics are essential to our 

accomplishing all the projects each year 

but more importantly, these are the measures of success for an organization to 

prevail through all challenges now and 

into the future. Lieutenant General Van 

Antwerp’s intent is for the Corps to be 

one disciplined team – in thought, word, 

and action – and to meet our commitments, with and through our partners, 

by “SAYING WHAT WE WILL DO, 

AND DOING WHAT WE SAY.” Tulsa 

District will endeavor to meet his intent!
Tulsa District Project Update 4 September 2008

Corps of Engineers and Fort Riley engineers 

partner to demolish Fall River water tower

An obsolete water tower at 

Fall River Lake in Kansas 

was demolished in a training 

exercise for some Engineer 

Soldiers recently returned 

from Iraq.

This valuable training 

experience saved the Corps 

of Engineers $25,000 in 

demolition costs.

First, you see a flash and smoke. 

Next, the tower starts to tilt. Then, you 

hear the explosion. It’s a strange chain 

of events and a lesson in the speed of 

sound experienced by people gathered to 

watch the old water tower at Fall River 

Lake be, according to the Army news 

release, “explosively reduced.” 

A former platoon leader of Colonel 

Funkhouser’s, Captain John Miller, leads 

the 111th Engineer Company (Sapper), 

1st Engineer Battalion, stationed at 

Fort Riley, Kan. Their connection led 

to a partnership that benefits both the 

Soldiers and Tulsa District. The engineer company, which returned from 

Iraq late last year, is always looking for 

real-life engineering challenges to keep 

them trained for their military work. 

The old water tower which needed to be 

removed from Fall River Project provided just such an opportunity. 

The obsolete tower, erected in 1948, 

had a 25,000 gallon tank and sat on legs 

approximately 95 feet from the ground 

to the top of its cap. It was previously 

used for the Fall River Lake Office 

and Overlook water supplies. Its final 

use, however, was to provide training for the young engineer Soldiers. A 

safe perimeter was established; blast 

barricades were built by inmate labor 

(another partnership established by 

the Fall River Office); the media was 

informed; charges were set; people gathered to watch; unmanned cameras were 

anchored by sand bags; and soon there 

was “fire in the hole!” 

The tower was taken down by two 

planned explosions -- the first causing it 

to lean and the second making it fall -- 

right between two trees as predicted. 

Lots of work went into the event, 

and Park Ranger Gary Simmons pulled 

it all together. Coordination was accomplished with Kansas State Parks, the 

highway department, nearby residents, 

and the utility company which temporarily removed transformers in the area of 

the blast. The Soldiers arrived the day 

before to prepare. On the morning of 

the demolition, Simmons said, “It was a 

lot of work -- lots and lots of manhours 

-- but it was all worth it to spend last 

night camped with those young Soldiers 

and hear their stories and look at their 

pictures. I think getting to know them on 

a personal level was the definitive highpoint for the entire staff.” 

Following the tower’s fall, nearly 

100 Soldiers and family members were 

guests at a cookout provided by the 

Initiative saves project funds, provides training to Soldiers

Continued ... page 5
September 2008 5 Tulsa District Project Update

A crowd gathered to watch the water tower 

come down. Barriers and guards kept them a 

safe distance from the blast.

Members of the 111th Engineer Company (Sapper) posed with their flag in front of the top of the water tower.

Everything is a canvas when you’re young and in love. This is a shot of the water tower 

at Fall River after the demolition.

Fall River Project Office. “Everyone 

worked real hard,” according to Susan 

Couch, manager of Fall River, Big Hill, 

and Toronto projects. She noted that all 

the extra work and preparation for both 

the blast and the barbeque were accomplished during a flood watch. Fall River 

was teetering on the edge of requiring 

24-hour surveillance. Fortunately, sunny 

skies greeted the Soldiers and onlookers 

that day, and the weather stayed clear 

through the meal and family time. 

The day that started with a bang 

ended with the feeling of a job well done 

-- and appreciated. 
Tulsa District Project Update 6 September 2008

Cowskin Creek Local Flood Protection

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 

5, 2008, for the Cowskin 

Creek Local Flood Protection 

Project in Wichita, Kansas. 

Dignitaries included 

Congressman Todd Tiahart 

and Mel Thompson from 

Senator Pat Roberts’ office.

The Cowskin Creek Basin 

drains an area of 122 square 

miles and over the years has 

sustained significant recurring flooding which directly 

impacts residential areas.

The November 1998 flood 

resulted in significant damage 

to about 200 homes and many 

businesses, some of which 

Participants in the Cowskin Creek groundbreaking are (left to right) Chris 

Carrier, Director of Public Works; Colonel Anthony Funkhouser, Tulsa 

District Commander; Councilwoman Lavonta Williams; Councilman Jim 

Skelton; Mayor Carl Brewer; County Commission Chair Tom Winters; 

Congressman Todd Tiahrt; Sandy Martz; and Councilman Jeff Longwell.

Sand Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 

25, 2008, for the Sand Creek 

Ecosystem Restoration 

Project. The Sand Creek corridor in Newton, Kansas, was 

originally constructed by the 

Corps of Engineers in the 

1960s to alleviate flooding 

problems through the center 

of town.

The proposed ecosystem 

restoration project focuses 

on riparian corridor habitat 

restoration that will extend 

approximately 1.7 miles along 

the Sand Creek channel.

Along with bank restoration, the project will include 

were damaged beyond 50% of 

their value. 

The project creates an 

overflow channel approximately 300 feet wide on 

the eastern overbank area 

of Cowskin Creek, between 

Kellogg Drive and Maple 

Street for approximately 1,200 

feet.

On September 4, 2007, 

a construction contract was 

awarded to a local contractor, Pearson Excavating from 

Wichita, Kansas.

Construction began in 

mid-February 2008, and the 

project should be complete in 

early 2009.

the creation of a 35-acre 

wetland west of the wastewater treatment plant and 

two hardwood tree planting 

areas. More than 450 trees 

and almost 800 shrubs will be 

planted throughout the project, 

with native grasses along the 

creek.

On January 30, 2008, the 

construction contract was 

awarded to a local contractor, Utility Contractors, from 

Wichita, Kansas.

Construction is scheduled 

for completion in the summer 

of 2009.

From left to right - Tulsa District employees Mike Nance, Steven Rous, 

Dan Johnson, and Kevin Archer with Congressman Todd Tiahrt at the 

groundbreaking ceremony for the Sand Creek Ecosystem Restoration 

Project.

Yukon Project Cost-Sharing Agreement Signed

The mayor of Yukon, Okla., Ward Larson (left), visited 

Tulsa District July 29 to sign the Project Cooperation 

Agreement which formally signifies commitment by the 

Corps and the city to participate in cost sharing on the 

construction project which will upgrade Yukon’s domestic 

water supply system. The agreement is the contract between 

the government and the non-Federal sponsor which defines the 

responsibilities regarding funding and real estate required for 

construction of the project.

Stacey Glasscock of Congressman Frank Lucas’ office 

attended the signing ceremony.

Mayor Ward Larson with Colonel Anthony Funkhouser

Congressman Tiahrt participates in groundbreakings
September 2008 7 Tulsa District Project Update

Water Safety Program

“Your safety, Our concern”

Tulsa District’s employees take water safety 

very seriously. Saving one life from drowning 

makes our presence at boat shows, schools, 

and special events such as parades.

At the recent Tulsa Boat Show, Corps park 

rangers were busy the whole time. Sharing 

information about the Corps recreation 

program and encouraging water safety were 

the themes of that visit.

Sincerity and personal appreciation for people 

make their water safety activities successful.

Children are drawn to the Corps water safety 

mascot “Bobber - The Water Safety Dog”. 

Water safety promotional items such as 

tatoos, frisbees, and coloring books are taken 

away by the children and become a reminder 

when at home.

“Bobber” and park ranger Dakota Allison 

impress young rodeo visitors at the 41st 

Walleye Rodeo held at Canton Lake, May 

15-18.

Corps rangers staff the water safety and 

information booth at the Tulsa Boat Show. 

Park ranger Debbie Chaloupek and “Bobber” ride the Corps float in a parade at the Walleye Rodeo, Canton, Okla. On front of the float is the 

Corps remote controlled water safety sea serpent “Seamoor”.

Life jackets are provided for visitors at most Corps parks near boat ramps and swim areas.
Tulsa District Project Update 8 September 2008

visitors spend over $537 million every year for recreation related goods and services in the various 

communities within a 30 mile radius of our projects. 

The resulting visitor spending activities support 

over 7,000 jobs in the local communities around our 

lakes. Without the tremendous efforts of our volunteers this last year to assist us with our repairs and 

clean up operations, many of our facilities would 

not have been functional which would have resulted 

in lost revenue and lost jobs to the local businesses 

and communities around our lake projects. 

Volunteers Keep Parks Open ... from page 1

Fiscal Year 2008 Emergency 

Supplemental Bill Provides 

Funding for Health and 

Safety Repairs Due to 2007 

Flooding

The Emergency Supplemental 

Appropriations Bill provided $10.5 million of 

funds for the Tulsa District projects at the following locations:

Canton Lake - $100,000

Council Grove Lake - $165,000

Elk City Lake - $1,045,000

Fall River Lake - $40,000

John Redmond Lake - $25,000

Kaw Lake - $36,000

Keystone Lake - $15,000

Lake Texoma - $2,225,000

McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation 

System - $2,750,000

Oologah Lake - $1,700,000

Toronto Lake - $30,000

Waurika Lake - $175,000

Webbers Falls Lock and Dam - $2,250,000 

The funds will be used to address health 

and safety related items such as repairs to 

embankment and outlet works, dredging and 

construction of dredge disposal areas for the 

McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation 

System, replacement of toilets ruined by 

flooding, repairs of failed roadways, and 

replacement of corroded electrical systems. 

Contracts for all emergency repairs will be 

awarded by the end of September 2008.

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September 2008 9 Tulsa District Project Update

Tulsa District’s Military Program

Camp Wichita, today better known as Fort 

Sill, Okla., was never a sleepy frontier outpost. 

In the 1800s, Fort Sill was home to six cavalry 

regiments accompanied by frontier scouts such 

as “Buffalo Bill” Cody, “Wild Bill” Hickok, 

Ben Clark and Jack Stilwell.

Now, there is even more hustle and bustle as 

it gets ready to accept returning Soldiers from 

overseas posts and reassignments from other 

Army installations as part of the ongoing Base 

Realignment and Closure program.

The move of the Air Defense Artillery 

School and the 31st Air Defense Artillery 

Brigade from Fort Bliss in Texas to Fort Sill 

is causing much of that new construction. It 

requires building new instructional buildings, 

barracks, dining facilities, vehicle maintenance facilities, and 

administrative buildings. Many existing buildings are being 

renovated and upgraded.

It also means a huge influx of families into the area. In 

addition, on-base infrastructure will have to be built or 

improved to support the additional troops.

The Tulsa District, along with four other districts, Fort 

Worth, Little Rock, Savannah, and Norfolk, have combined 

efforts to have everything ready for the troops. Some of the 

troops have already reported to Fort Sill and most of the troops 

will be there by 2010, one year before the required BRAC 

completion in September of 2011. Total cost for the two large 

BRAC projects is approximately $338 million.

Ramona Wagner, Tulsa District’s deputy chief of 

Engineering and Construction Division, said, “With the combined skills and dedication to getting the job done by these 

partnering districts, we should have everything up and running 

by the target dates.”

Another project to soon be advertised will be a nearly $40 

million, 1,200 person Armed Forces Reserve Center to be built 

on Fort Sill.

Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all 

the forts built on the south plains during the early days of our 

country. Although it has not increased the size of its boundaries, it certainly has increased its size and stature within today’s 

modern Army.

Fort Sill ahead of schedule

Ross Adkins

Air Defense Artillery School dining facility under construction at Fort 

Sill.

Major General Temple inspects construction at Fort Sill.
Tulsa District Project Update 10 September 2008

Canton Lake Dam Safety Project Includes Public Meeting

In early May 2008, Tulsa 

District hosted an open house 

at the Canton Community 

Center to discuss the Canton 

Dam Safety Assurance 

Project with members of the 

public. About 40 people 

attended the open house and 

spoke one-on-one with Corps 

representatives.

Studies had determined 

that there are seepage 

issues and the potential 

for the embankment to be 

overtopped during a probable maximum flood event. 

Consequently, restrictions to 

the flood pool and authorized 

project purpose are in place 

Dawn Rice, Tulsa District technical manager, provided tours of 

the project via presentation boards. Here she speaks with Canton 

resident, Troy Everett.

Broken Bow Lake in 

southeastern Oklahoma was 

very active in this spring’s 

efforts to reduce downstream 

flooding.

David Stewart, lead park 

ranger, said, “The flooding 

that occurred during MarchApril 2008 was, in fact, the 

flood of record for Broken 

Bow Lake. The normal pool 

elevation for the summer 

period is 603, and it crested 

on April 6 at 11:00 p.m. at 

elevation 626.30. It got close 

to the top of the tainter gates 

at the spillway but still well 

under the top of the flood 

pool.”

Broken Bow sets lake level record

Right - The fuel storage tank 

at Beavers Bend Marina (right) 

broke loose and floated. It had 

been tied off and kept secured 

by ropes and a chain link fence. 

Although it did contain some 

unleaded fuel, valves had been 

shut off to prevent spillage. 

Below - People gathered to watch 

the water as the tainter gates 

were opened six inches to allow 

discharge.

while the dam safety project 

construction is underway. 

The multiyear, multiphase 

project includes construction 

of a new auxiliary channel 

spillway which will resolve 

the embankment overtopping 

deficiency. As a secondary 

benefit, the excavated channel material will be placed 

at the toe of the existing 

embankment to correct the 

seepage issue. 

The open house was part 

of a continuing effort to keep 

the public informed on current and future activities for 

this project.

The spillway excavation 

contract is scheduled to be 

awarded in September 2008. 

Construction to relocate 

Highway 58A and reconfigure the project office is in 

progress.
September 2008 11 Tulsa District Project Update

Arkansas City Aquatic 

Ecosystem Restoration

Section 206, Water Resources Development 

Act of 1996, as amended

Feasibility Study

The city of Arkansas City is located 

at the confluence of the Arkansas and 

Walnut Rivers in southeast Kansas, 

Cowley County, approximately 122 

miles northwest of Tulsa, Okla.

The proposed restoration site is located 

within the historic floodplain of the 

Walnut River. The recommended plan 

would improve various types of wildlife 

habitat over a total of 122 acres. Borrow 

pits would be modified to be productive fish habitat. Constructed wetlands 

would provide habitat to numerous 

types of wildlife as well as improve 

water quality. Species diversity and 

carrying capacity would be restored to 

bottomland hardwood stands and prairie 

grasslands in the project area.

Fiscal year 2008 efforts are focused on 

completion of feasibility study efforts 

that will detail the most cost-effective 

plan to restore this historic floodplain.

Arkansas River Corridor

Section 22, Water Resources Development 

Act of 1974, Public Law 93-251 (Planning 

Assistance to States Program)

Study

The Arkansas River is a valuable water 

resource that provides opportunities for 

redevelopment to promote economic 

development, ecosystem restoration, and 

other initiatives that would improve the 

quality of life for many citizens living 

in the Tulsa metropolitan area as well 

as visitors to the region. At the end of 

2006, we completed a comprehensive 

Master Plan which integrates economic 

development with ecosystem restoration. 

This plan identifies specific features and 

locations based on extensive public outreach efforts and technical analysis of 

the feasibility of the vision.

In 2008, we continued with Phase III 

of the Arkansas River Corridor Study 

which focused on engineering and environmental studies. Primary products 

from this phase include: an ecosystem 

restoration plan, geotechnical studies, 

recommendation for holistic approach to 

weir operation, design recommendations 

and baseline environmental data.

Two low-water dams have been identified as major components of the 

comprehensive ecosystem restoration 

plan. They are necessary as hydropower 

production at Keystone Dam has negatively impacted this riverine ecosystem. 

Tennessee Valley Authority was on the 

team to model impacts of various dam 

designs on the aquatic ecosystem and 

public safety. Tulsa County is the costshare sponsor in Phase III.

The Water Resources Development 

Act of 2007 authorizes the expenditure of $50 million in Federal funds for 

implementation of features in the 2005 

Arkansas River Corridor Master Plan. 

Tulsa District could use $10 million in 

2009 to complete the decision document, 

Above - Erosion along the 

banks of the Arkansas 

River are a concern for 

the metropolitian areas 

included in the Arkansas 

River Corridor study.

Solutions being 

considered for that 

erosion include terracing 

and plantings.
Tulsa District Project Update 12 September 2008

execute the project cooperation agreement, begin design and the National 

Environmental Policy Act process, and 

construct ecosystem restoration measures adjacent to the existing Zink Dam.

This project has generated great excitement within Tulsa County as well as 

the region. Other municipalities are 

closely watching the successes of our 

partnerships with both public and private 

stakeholders.

On July 7, 2008, the Tulsa County 

Commissioners voted to award preliminary design and 404 permitting 

actions to a highly qualified A/E consultant. This effort is a 50%/50% cost 

share being funded with Tulsa County 

Vision 2025 funds and a grant from 

the Economic Development Authority, 

along with Federal Planning Assistance 

to States funding

The Arkansas River Corridor Master 

Plan and documents are hosted on the 

INCOG website.

Augusta Levee Local Flood 

Protection Project

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, 

as amended (Continuing Authority - Flood 

Control)

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design

Augusta is about 19 miles east of 

Wichita, Kansas. The Whitewater River 

runs through Augusta to its confluence 

with the Walnut River.

The original levee was constructed in 

the 1920s and ’30s through private and 

public sponsorship and was incorporated into the Federal Levee Inspection 

Program in the 1940s.

The November 1998 flood damages 

were caused primarily by the Whitewater 

River breaching of the city’s levee system at several locations along the west 

side of Augusta. The recommended plan 

is to raise and extend the existing levee 

to provide a 500-year level of flood protection. On March 3, 2008, the Project 

Cooperation Agreement for construction 

of this important project was executed.

Fiscal year 2008 efforts are focused on 

completion of construction plans and 

specifications and obtaining the necessary right of way for the construction 

effort. We anticipate award of the construction effort in the spring of 2009.

Blackwell Lake Clearing and 

Snagging

Section 208 of the 1954 Flood Control Act, 

as amended by the 1974 Water Resources 

Development Act

Project Design Analysis Underway

Blackwell Lake is located in Kay 

County, Okla., near Braman, and is a 

primary recreational feature in that part 

of Oklahoma.

Due to the ice storm of 2001, a heavy 

load of logs and other debris have accumulated upstream of the Lake Blackwell 

Dam and spillway. The logjam is 

blocking access to the gate controls of 

the dam structure and has completely 

overwhelmed the normal maintenance 

capacity of the Lake Blackwell Trust 

Authority. The logjam has also significantly increased the flooding risks of 

the residential community immediately 

upstream (approximately 200 homes). 

The recommended plan of improvement 

is to remove the logjam and properly 

dispose of the accumulated material.

Currently, this project is on hold due 

to lack of Federal funding. If funding 

were made available, fiscal year 2009 

activities could focus on execution of the 

Project Cooperation Agreement and initiating construction efforts.

Candy Lake Land Sale

Water Resources Development Act of 1999

Land Sale

Candy Lake was deauthorized by publication in the Federal Register in 

December 1996. The Water Resources 

Development Act of 1999 authorized the 

Corps to sell Candy Lake project land at 

fair market value to the previous landowners or their descendants.

On July 30, 2008, the final deed was 

recorded at the Pawhuska, Okla., 

courthouse which completed the relinquishment of flowage easements and 

sale of land. This completes the series 

of deeds the Tulsa District, U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers and General Services 

Administration have negotiated for 72 

tracts of land over the past years.

Three remaining tracts totaling approximately 615 acres of land received no 

heir interest. These tracts were transferred to GSA for disposal through the 

Federal process. The General Services 

Administration is currently awaiting 

determination of eligibility from the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs as to whether 

the remaining tracts will be transferred 

to the Osage Nation or cleared for further disposal actions in accordance with 

the Federal Real Property Disposal process.

Canton Lake, Oklahoma 

(Dam Safety)

Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938 

(Public Law 761); Flood Control Act approved 

July 24, 1946 (Public Law 526) (irrigation 

storage); Flood Control Act approved June 

30, 1948 (Public Law 858); and the Water 

Resources Development Act of 1990 (Public 

Law 101-640) (water supply storage)

Under Construction

This is a $79 million multi-phase dam 

safety project with the first phase consisting of a Spillway Stabilization 

Construction Project in which 64 

anchors were installed into the spillway to correct stability deficiencies. 

The first phase contract was performed 

for $4.5 million and was completed 

in October 2006. In fiscal year 2007, 

a slurry trench contract was awarded 

in September 2007 for $1.4 million to 

construct a water barrier between the 

lake and the new location of the auxiliary spillway. Development of plans 

and specifications for the excavation 

contract also continued in 2007. Fiscal 

year 2008 activities include awarding a 

$3.1 million contract for the relocation 

of Highway 58A, a $900,000 design/

construct contract for reconfiguring the 

current project office, and the award of 

the first phase of the auxiliary channel 

excavation contract which is anticipated 

to occur in September 2008.

The first phase of the auxiliary channel 

excavation contract will consist of the 
September 2008 13 Tulsa District Project Update

Canton Lake, Okla., Dam Safety Project

excavation of the new auxiliary channel 

(1.5 million cubic yards), construction 

of concrete diaphragm walls and aprons, 

channel rip rap, groundwater control, 

channel cut off wall, new piezometers 

and extension of the current relief wells. 

As a secondary benefit of the contract, 

the excavated channel material will be 

placed at the toe of the existing earth 

embankment to mitigate seepage under 

the existing embankment.

Cowskin Creek, Local Flood 

Protection Project, Wichita, 

Kansas

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, 

as amended (Continuing Authority - Flood 

Control)

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design

The Cowskin Creek Basin is located 

in the western part of Wichita, Kansas. 

This basin has sustained significant 

recurring flooding problems directly 

impacting residential areas. The 

November 1998 flood resulted in significant damage to about 200 homes and 

many businesses, some of which were 

damaged beyond 50% of their value. 

The recommended plan of improvement 

would include channelization of a portion of Cowskin Creek with construction 

of an overbank area to convey the high 

flows during a flood event.

On September 14, 2007, the contract for 

construction of the Cowskin Creek Local 

Flood Protection Project was awarded 

to Pearson Excavating from Wichita, 

Kansas, for $2,489,828. Notice to 

Proceed was issued on October 3, 2007. 

Construction is in progress and scheduled for completion by early 2009.

East Tulsa County, Haikey 

Creek Watershed, Oklahoma

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, 

as amended (Continuing Authority -- Flood 

Control)

Feasibility Study

The Haikey Creek watershed is approximately 9 miles long and a maximum 

of 8 miles wide, originating in Broken 

Arrow, Okla., flowing generally southward within east Tulsa County through 

portions of the cities of Tulsa and Bixby. 

The drainage area contains approximately 37 square miles and is largely 

urbanized.

The city of Bixby requested assistance 

to reduce flooding and improve riparian habitat in the lower reach of Haikey 

Creek. Potential improvements could 

consist of channelization of Haikey 

Creek and/or construction of a levee 

approximately 2-5 feet high.

On February 26, 2008, only one alternative was identified that fulfilled 

the Federal requirement for project 

implementation. Unfortunately, this 

alternative did not address all the needs 

of the sponsor and, at that time, the city 

of Bixby decided to pursue implementation efforts without Corps involvement.

Study termination efforts are underway 

and information from the study is being 

provided to the city of Bixby to allow 

them to complete implementation of the 

locally preferred option.

Grand (Neosho) River 

Wetlands and Bottomland 

Hardwoods Ecosystem 

Restoration, Oklahoma

Section 206 of Water Resources Development 

Act of 1996, as amended (Continuing 

Authority -- Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration)

Planning

This ecosystem restoration project will 

focus on wetland bottomland hardwood 

habitat restoration along the Neosho 

River upstream of Miami, Okla. Project 

features could include outdoor classrooms and multipurpose maintenance 

trails that provide public access for 

nature-related recreation.

In December 2006, The Natural 

Resources Conservation Service at 

Stillwater completed a preliminary 

assessment report detailing possible 

improvements that could be accomplished.

This project is on hold due to a lack of 

Federal funds to complete the feasibility 

study effort.
Tulsa District Project Update 14 September 2008

Grand Lake Comprehensive 

Study

Section 449 of the Water Resources 

Development Act of 2000

Study

Grand Lake became operational in 1941 

and its purposes include hydroelectric 

power (operated by the Grand River 

Dam Authority, an agency of the state of 

Oklahoma) and flood control (directed 

by the Corps). Grand Lake is located 

in the Grand (Neosho) River Basin (a 

sub-basin of the Arkansas River Basin) 

and is an integral component of a system flood control operation consisting 

of 11 principal reservoir projects in 

the Arkansas River Basin. The system 

operation of the 11 reservoirs also benefits the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River 

Navigation System.

Grand Lake was designed and constructed by the Grand River Dam 

Authority and initially had a single 

purpose of hydropower production. In 

order to include Grand Lake as part of a 

comprehensive multipurpose plan for the 

Arkansas River, the Flood Control Act 

of 1941 authorized the Corps to manage the flood control features. The flood 

control pool limits were established 

from elevation 745.0 to 755.0 (Pensacola 

datum). Flood flowage easements were 

acquired up to elevation 750.0 by the 

State of Oklahoma. Other Federal agencies acquired flood flowage easements 

from elevation 750.0 to 760.0. The 

flowage easements are now held by the 

Corps.

In response to public concerns, Congress 

established Section 560 of the Water 

Resources Development Act of 1996 

which authorized the Corps to conduct 

a study that considered the combined 

operating purposes of flood control 

and hydropower. The September 

1998 Grand Lake, Okla., Real Estate 

Adequacy Study report documents that 

areas were found around the lake where, 

using current criteria and based on current lake operations, additional flowage 

easements would be recommended if 

Grand Lake was a “new” Corps project.

A letter report was prepared by the 

Tulsa District Corps to document an 

initial technical evaluation of historical 

and theoretical flood events. Based on 

review of the letter report, the Assistant 

Secretary of the Army for Civil Works 

concurred on September 14, 2007, that 

further detailed study is warranted. With 

that decision and in accordance with the 

provisions of Section 449 of the Water 

Resources Development Act of 2000, 

the feasibility study could be conducted 

at full Federal cost.

Existing funds will be used to complete 

a study/project management communications plan and hold a feasibility scoping 

meeting. A Geographical Information 

System (GIS) Summit will be conducted 

in fiscal year 2008 and will include data 

gathering with priority given to information that would help Ottawa County 

and the city of Miami, Okla., in making 

short-term floodplain management decisions.

Potential future feasibility phase activities would be dependent on annual 

congressional funding. The purpose of 

the feasibility study would be to identify 

cost-effective solutions to the flooding 

problems consistent with current Federal 

policies. Categories of alternatives to 

consider include structural measures 

(such as levees), nonstructural measures 

(such as flood proofing and buyouts of 

flood prone structures), changes in the 

system operation, and combinations of 

measures.

A strategic activity, to address minor 

flood events, is the flood control pool 

releases consistent with the current system operating plan. While there is only 

limited and preliminary data at this time 

to confirm the effectiveness, it is likely 

that this approach reduces flooding 

related to the more frequent (minor/moderate) flood events. It is important to 

note, however, that large flood events, 

like those frequent in the late 1980s 

and 1990s, overwhelm available flood 

storages, significantly limit the ability 

to transfer flood waters to downstream 

lakes quickly, and cause significant 

flooding with or without operational 

modifications.

Grand/Neosho Ecosystem 

Restoration Study

Section 208, Flood Control Act of 1956

Study

The study area consists of the 12,500 

square-mile Grand/Neosho River Basin 

in northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas. Flooding around Grand 

Lake, sedimentation problems in John 

Redmond Reservoir, and the 1,800 

square miles of uncontrolled drainage areas have increased the need for a 

basin-wide study to address flooding and 

floodplain management problems and 

opportunities, and ecosystem improvements associated with aquatic habitats, 

wetlands, and watershed corridors.

A feasibility cost-share agreement 

was executed with the Kansas Water 

Office in September 2006 for the John 

Redmond Reservoir Study. This interim 

study focuses on the ecosystem degradation that has occurred in John Redmond 

Reservoir. This degradation is largely 

a result of sedimentation and nutrient 

loading. Other local issues such as the 

logjam and an assessment of dredging as 

an alternative are included in the multiyear study.

In 2007, we collected data for modeling, 

completed a sedimentation survey in the 

lake, and completed alternative formulation.

Ongoing actions in 2008 include 

installing monitoring gauges, conducting watershed modeling, conducting 

sediment studies, and preliminary formulation of alternatives. We also submitted 

a feasibility scoping meeting package 

to Corps headquarters. This is a major 

milestone to gain policy review and concurrence on alternatives and evaluation 

measures.

With additional funds in fiscal year 

2009, we could complete the National 

Environmental Policy Act documents 

and prepare the draft feasibility report 

for the Division Commander’s public 

notice. The study is scheduled to be 

completed in December 2009.
September 2008 15 Tulsa District Project Update

Joe Creek Ecosystem 

Restoration Project, Tulsa, 

Oklahoma

Section 1135, Water Resources Development 

Act of 1986 (Continuing Authority -- Habitat 

Restoration)

Feasibility Study

Joe Creek is a tributary to the Arkansas 

River at Tulsa, Okla. The Joe Creek 

Local Protection Project was constructed 

under the authority of Section 205 of 

the 1948 Flood Control Act. A majority of the improved channel is concrete 

lined. The proposed project will focus 

on improvements to the riparian stream 

corridor habitat that was impaired when 

the original flood control project was 

constructed. Detailed feasibility study 

efforts were completed in August 2008. 

Fiscal year 2009 activities will focus on 

completion of contract plans and specifications.

Lawton Wastewater 

Infrastructure

Section 219(f)(40), Water Resources 

Development Act of 1992 as amended

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design

The project consists of constructing 

wastewater infrastructure for the city 

of Lawton, Okla. Lawton is located 

approximately 100 miles southwest of 

Oklahoma City in Comanche County, 

Okla.

The city is conducting a 20-year, threephase $63 million sewer rehabilitation 

program in response to a consent order 

from the Oklahoma Department of 

Environmental Quality. The program 

involves total replacement of sewer 

pipelines and upgrading of other components. The services provided by the 

city’s infrastructure include off-base 

housing for the Army at Fort Sill. The 

Corps participation in the overall project 

will be approximately $2.5 million.

The city will provide the construction 

plans and specifications and the Corps 

will conduct all contracting and construction administration services as well 

as publication of the Environmental 

Assessment.

In fiscal year 2008, the Project 

Cooperation Agreement was signed. 

This allows the sponsor to begin acquisition of real estate. This activity should 

be complete in fiscal year 2009. If 

acquisition occurs on schedule, a contract could be underway in fiscal year 

2010.

McClellan-Kerr Arkansas 

River Navigation System, 

Arkansas & Oklahoma, 12-

Foot Navigation Channel

Section 136, Energy and Water Development 

Appropriations Act, fiscal year 2004 (Public 

Law 108-137)

Authorized (Not Started)

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River 

Navigation System is approximately 

445 miles long, consists of 18 locks and 

dams, and provides 9-foot-deep inland 

navigation from the Mississippi River 

to Catoosa, Okla. In 2005, the system 

carried 12.9 million tons of various 

materials to include petroleum products, 

wheat, chemicals, and steel.

This project will deepen the navigation channel to a minimum depth of 12 

feet thereby increasing the efficiency of 

the system. Deepening of the channel 

will be performed by a combination of 

techniques including altering the flow 

management, constructing dikes and 

jetties and dredging the channel. This 

project also includes a significant environmental component to include creation 

of bottomland hardwood forests and 

high quality wetlands as well as other 

environmental enhancements.

This project has a projected cost estimate of $165.5 million and is jointly 

managed by both Little Rock and Tulsa 

Districts. To date, $7.0 million was 

provided through a fiscal year 2005 congressional add to complete the feasibility 

study and the Environmental Impact 

Statement as well as to start dredging 

activities and construction of dikes and 

jetties.

During fiscal year 2006, dredging commenced and was completed at mile 

348 in Pool 15 in Oklahoma as well as 

commencing construction of training 

structures in Pools 2 and 7 in Arkansas. 

Construction of a Least Tern Island 

with rock protection was also accomplished in conjunction with the dredging 

activities in Pool 15. Design of river 

structures was accomplished for Pools 2, 

7 and 5. Mitigation activities including 

aquatic and terrestrial surveys were performed in both Oklahoma and Arkansas. 

A five-year project plan was also developed for the project that includes an 

integrated project breakdown of activities and associated costs that has been 

vetted through the navigation stakeholders.

This project was not included in the fiscal year 2007 budget. However, fiscal 

year 2006 carryover funds where used 

to place stone structures to improve self 

scour in Arkansas, continue the design 

of upland dredge disposal sites, and continue real estate efforts in Oklahoma.

This project is not included in the fiscal year 2008 budget. The only activity 

performed in fiscal year 2008 was the 

completion of the design for the upland 

dredge disposal sites and the cultural 

resource investigation. Funds have been 

exhausted resulting in no further work 

ongoing on the project.
Tulsa District Project Update 16 September 2008

Oklahoma Comprehensive 

Water Plan

Study

We are providing technical planning assistance, through the Planning 

Assistance to State authority to the 

Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 

for an update of the Oklahoma 

Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP). 

In fiscal year 2008, we have developed 

programmatic work plan, developed and 

distributed an infrastructure survey for 

municipalities and rural water districts 

and a pilot GIS project. Coinciding with 

these integrated efforts is an extensive 

public participation program to create a 

transparent and open planning process. 

Contingent on approvals and future 

funding, it is anticipated that information 

from Southeast Oklahoma and Washita 

Watershed Management Plans will be 

integrated into the OCWP.

The entire process has three phases. 

Currently, the Corps is authorized to 

participate only in the studies.

The first phase of the OCWP update 

will focus on development of water 

demand projections by county and 

region throughout forecast year 2060 as 

well as a comprehensive inventory and 

analysis of the state’s water supplies. 

Phase two of the updated water plan 

will identify local and regional problems 

and opportunities related to the use of 

water for public supply, agricultural, 

industrial, recreational, and environmental uses. This particular segment of the 

planning process, involving close partnerships with both municipal and rural 

water system representatives, will identify infrastructure needs, management 

options, and other measures to maximize 

the efficiency of Oklahoma’s public 

water suppliers.

The third phase of the state water 

planning process involves the implementation of planning initiatives and 

tools derived from the issues, problems and needs identified during phase 

two. The Oklahoma Water Resources 

Board is drawing upon the expertise of 

Oklahoma’s foremost water experts from 

various water use sectors, local, state 

and Federal governments, and universities to develop policy recommendations 

for consideration by the state legislature.

The Water Resources Development Act 

of 2007 authorizes the expenditure of 

$6.5 million in Federal funds for completion of the Oklahoma Comprehensive 

Water Plan. It further specifies that this 

effort will be completed with a 75% 

Federal and 25% non-Federal cost share. 

Upon issuance of the guidance from 

Corps headquarters, an agreement will 

be executed to support a broad general 

investigations study.

Oologah Lake Watershed 

Feasibility Study, Oklahoma 

and Kansas

Section 206, Flood Control Act 1958; 

Resolution adopted on May 25, 1960 by the 

House Committee on Public Works

Study

The Verdigris River Basin drainage area 

is approximately 4,300 square miles and 

is located in southeastern Kansas and 

northeastern Oklahoma. This basin is 

impounded to form Oologah Lake.

The study will develop a watershed 

management plan with identified measures to reduce impacts of upstream 

activity on aquatic and terrestrial habitat 

within the basin. Upstream development 

has adversely affected the water quality 

at Oologah Lake which is a water supply 

source for the city of Tulsa.

In 2007, efforts focused on alternative 

modeling, calibrating the lake model 

and gathering data. We began a detailed 

institutional analysis which is n tremendous collaborative effort with other 

Federal, state and local agencies. In 

2008, funds are being used to complete 

the institutional analysis, appendixes 

to watershed management plan and the 

first draft of the plan. Multi-state and 

local meetings have been a major effort 

in 2008. Data gathering and modeling 

will continue throughout the study at the 

request of the sponsor.

In 2009, the first draft of the watershed 

management plan will be released. This 

study enjoys a tremendous following and 

an extensive review is expected. We 

will also conduct an in-progress review 

with our headquarters. Dependent on 

Federal funding, the study should be 

complete in 2010.

Sand Creek Ecosystem 

Restoration Project, Newton, 

Kansas

Section 1135 of Water Resources 

Development Act of 1986, as amended 

(Continuing Authority - Habitat Restoration)

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design

The Sand Creek Ecosystem Restoration 

Project focuses on improvements along 

Sand Creek within the city limits of 

Newton, Kansas. The Sand Creek Local 

Flood Protection Project was completed 

by the Corps of Engineers in April 1967.

The proposed project will focus on 

improvements to the riparian stream corridor habitat that was impaired when the 

original flood control project was constructed.

On January 30, 2008, the Sand Creek 

construction contract was awarded to 

Utility Contractors, Wichita, Kansas, for 

$10,371,766. Remaining efforts, in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, will be focused 

on project construction.

Spavinaw Lake Watershed 

Feasibility Study

Section 208, Flood Control Act of 1965 (Public 

Law 89-298)

Study

Spavinaw Creek, and its downstream 

impoundments - Eucha and Spavinaw 

Lakes, is severely impacted by nutrient loading and excessive algae growth 

as a result of agricultural practices in 

Arkansas and Oklahoma. Degradation 

of water quality has led to taste and odor 

problems, increased treatment costs, and 

the lakes’ decreased recreational and 

aesthetic value. Together, Spavinaw and 

Eucha Lakes provide 47% of the water 

supply for the Tulsa metropolitan area. 

The Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority 

entered into the feasibility cost-share 

agreement in June 2004.
September 2008 17 Tulsa District Project Update

Because of extensive ecosystem restoration work being done by the poultry 

industry in the watershed, this study is 

focused on in-lake solutions. In fiscal 

year 2008, we continued with alternative analysis. This included identifying 

and contracting with engineering experts 

to help with the analysis. With alternatives clearly identified, environmental 

analysis also began. An alternative 

formulation briefing package was sent 

to our headquarters. This represents 

a major milestone in the study and is 

designed to gain policy review and headquarters concurrence with the selected 

alternative.

In 2008, the team will complete all studies and the report will be completed in 

2009.

Webbers Falls Powerhouse 

Major Rehabilitation, 

Oklahoma

River & Harbor Act, approved July 24, 1946; 

Project Document HD 758, 79th Congress, 2d 

Session

Under Construction

The run-of-river power plant contains 

three 23,000 kilowatt (kW) inclinedaxis Kaplan-type generating units with a 

total rated generating capacity of 60,000 

kW. These turbines were the first tube 

turbines of this magnitude ever built 

and placed in operation. As a result, the 

design did not consider all of the factors 

specific to the operation of slant-axis 

turbines and, consequently, the project 

has been plagued with mechanical reliability problems during its operation. 

Currently, one turbine is non-operational; the two remaining units will 

continue to fail regularly until they can 

no longer generate power. The major 

rehabilitation project will replace all 

three turbines resulting in $1.32 million 

of net benefits per month to the nation. 

In addition to rehabbing the turbines, the 

cranes will be rehabbed, the generators 

will be rewound and turbine governors 

will be upgraded which will increase the 

capacity of the plant by 8.5%.

In February 2001, the Corps of 

Engineers Hydroelectric Design Center 

(HDC) recommended that the Ozark and 

Webbers Falls turbine replacements be 

combined into one contract for a savings 

of over $5 million to the government 

and power customers. The Webbers 

Falls Turbine Replacement contract was 

subsequently included in the Ozark contract as an option and awarded May 3, 

2005.

The Webbers Falls Powerhouse 

Rehabilitation project’s current cost is 

$69.2 million with a scheduled completion date of December 2012.

Fiscal year 2008 activities include the 

award of the three turbine runners for 

$39.1 million as well as the turbine 

and generator bay bridge crane rehabilitation contracts for $2.3 million 

all funded by customer funding sub 

agreements. Specific fiscal year 2008 

activities include rehabbing the existing 

turbine and generator bay bridge cranes, 

and fabrication of the turbine runner, 

stub shaft and wicket gate assembly. 

Scheduled fiscal year 2009 activities 

include completion of the bridge crane 

contracts as well as disassembly of the 

turbine runner and wicket gate assembly 

for unit 3.

Brigadier General Kendall P. Cox, Southwestern Division Commander, inspects plans for 

Webbers Falls turbine replacement.
Tulsa District Project Update 18 September 2008

Bowie County Levee

Energy and Water Development Appropriation 

Act of 2001 and 2002

Pre-Construction Engineering & Design

The Bowie County Levee is located near 

Texarkana, Texas, in Bowie County, 

Texas. The existing levee is 8.8 miles 

long and was built in 1913. The locally 

preferred plan, known as Alternative B, 

is the plan which will be constructed. 

This plan consists of restoring 6.0 miles 

of existing levee, constructing 4.0 miles 

of new levee, and constructing 1.4 miles 

of channel to divert Barkman Creek 

flows to the Red River.

In fiscal year 2008, the Regional 

Variance, which allows vegetation to 

remain on the river side of the levee, 

was revised and approved by the Corps 

and the sponsor. Additionally, revisions 

to the mitigation plan were requested by 

the sponsor. These revisions are under 

evaluation to determine the impact to the 

mitigation plan and the Environmental 

Assessment. The Project Cooperation 

Agreement (PAC) should be approved in 

fiscal year 2009. This report will serve 

as the project decision document and, 

therefore, the basis for drafting the PCA. 

The PCA will be submitted late in fiscal 

year 2009. Approval of the PCA should 

come late in fiscal year 2010. This will 

clear the way for the sponsor to begin 

real estate acquisition during fiscal year 

2011 and complete in fiscal year 2012. 

Upon completion of the real estate 

acquisition, a construction contract can 

be awarded and construction can begin.

Denison Land Conveyance

Water Resources Development Act of 2007

The Water Resources Development 

Act of 2007 authorized the Secretary 

of the Army to convey to the city of 

Denison up to 900 acres of lands at Lake 

Texoma, which were included in a 2005 

lease application. The conveyance is to 

be at fair market value and is subject to 

completion of NEPA documentation and 

other real estate requirements such as 

survey and appraisal. All costs are to be 

funded by the city.

Preparation of an Environmental Impact 

Statement was published in the Federal 

Register in early August 2008. A public 

meeting is scheduled for September 11, 

2008.

Kemp Lake Reallocation 

Study

Water Resources Development Act of 1986

Study

Lake Kemp is located on the Wichita 

River at river mile 126.7 in Baylor 

County, Texas. Lake Kemp was originally constructed in 1924 by the Wichita 

County Water Improvement District #1. 

The lake was constructed for the primary 

purposes of irrigation, water supply, and 

related uses.

The reallocation study is being 

conducted with the Texas Water 

Development Board in conjunction with 

the Wichita County Water Improvement 

District #2 and the city of Wichita Falls. 

In 2007, the District awarded a contract 

to conduct a cultural resource study and 

a sedimentation study.

In 2008, we will complete the hydraulic and hydrology studies and begin 

the structural and geotechnical studies. 

Economic studies will begin in 2008 and 

will be complete in first quarter 2009.

The project is operated and maintained by the Wichita County Water 

Improvement District #2 and the city of 

Wichita Falls, Texas.

During the design and reconstruction of 

Lake Kemp, sedimentation was a key 

consideration. Design Memorandum 

No. 1 recommended raising the conservation pool after 40 years of operation 

to recover conservation storage lost to 

sedimentation. The latest sedimentation 

survey performed at Lake Kemp was in 

1973, and it indicated an expected high 

level of sedimentation. In recent years 

during drought conditions, the upper 

portions of Lake Kemp appear severely 

impacted by sedimentation.

Congressman Ralph Hall and Colonel Anthony Funkhouser participate in Denison Land 

Conveyance kickoff meeting.
September 2008 19 Tulsa District Project Update

ties. However, passage of Section 3136 

of the Water Resources Development 

Act of 2007 reaffirmed that operation 

and maintenance responsibilities would 

be at full Federal expense. Pending sufficient Federal funding, construction 

efforts will resume.

Fiscal year 2008 efforts are focused 

on completion of contract plans and 

specifications at Area VII in Texas 

and continued reevaluation efforts for 

Area VI within the Elm Fork Basin in 

Oklahoma. In addition, detailed baseline 

environmental monitoring activities are 

continuing.

Southeast Oklahoma Water 

Resource Study

1983 Supplemental Appropriation Act (PL 98-

63)

Study

This study has been reinitiated to support the Oklahoma Comprehensive 

Water Plan (OCWP). The Oklahoma 

Water Resources Board is the sponsor. This is one of three studies that 

will result in development of watershed 

management plans. These plans will 

be integrated into the OCWP. In 2008, 

study focus will be on infrastructure 

assessment, a water demand study, and a 

GIS pilot program.

In 2009, the water demand study will 

be completed and an assessment of the 

existing sources will begin. An analysis 

of gaps in the sources of water will be 

analyzed and the formulation of alternatives will begin. This study is scheduled 

to complete in 2012.

Mangum Geotechnical Study

Section 22 of the 1974 Water Resources 

Development Act

Study

Phase VI of the Mangum Lake 

Geotechnical Study will focus primarily on cost estimates for the preferred 

dam alignment. We will also drill one 

bore hole and develop a piezometer at 

the site. Funding caused a delay of this 

phase, but it is expected to restart this 

fiscal year. The recently completed 

Phase V study was comprised of a geotechnical investigation and stream loss 

study of the proposed dam site near 

Mangum, Okla. The Oklahoma Water 

Resources Board was the cost-share 

partner.

Foundation conditions at the proposed 

Mangum Dam site, 2 miles southwest 

of Mangum on the Salt Fork of the Red 

River, appear to be favorable. Complex 

geology and karstic conditions impose 

limits on elevation, size and capacity of 

the reservoir. While the proposed dam 

site was proven feasible, the elevation 

needs to be 1550 feet (mean sea level) 

for structural stability rather than the 

locally preferred 1560 feet. The difference in elevation reduces the acre feet of 

storage by half.

Further study could be focused on additional characterization of foundation 

conditions, hydrogeology and water loss.

Red River Basin Chloride 

Control Project

This project was authorized for construction 

by the Flood Control Act of 1966, approved 

November 7, 1966, Public Law 89-789, 

SD 110; as modified by the Flood Control 

Act approved December 31, 1970, Public 

Law 91-611; and as amended by the Water 

Resources Development Acts of 1974 and 

1976. The Water Resources Development 

Act of 1986, Public Law 99-662, amended 

the above authorization to separate the 

overall project into the Arkansas River Basin 

and the Red River Basin and authorized the 

Red River Basin for construction subject to 

a favorable report by a review panel on the 

performance of Area VIII. Section 3136 of the 

Water Resources Development Act of 2007 

reaffirmed that operation and maintenance 

responsibilities would be at full Federal 

expense.

Under Construction

The Red River Chloride Control Project 

is authorized to identify and implement 

measures to reduce naturally occurring 

brine emissions into several sub-basins 

within the Red River Basin in northern 

Texas and southern Oklahoma. The 

project’s primary purpose is to improve 

water quality for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses along the 

Red River within Oklahoma, Texas, 

Arkansas and Louisiana.

Improvements include construction 

of low-flow dams, pump stations, 

and diversion pipelines to impoundment facilities. This project is a select 

major water strategy of the 2007 Texas 

Water Plan for the region and the state 

of Oklahoma has expressed a renewed 

interest in the Area VI element of the 

Red River project and reevaluation 

efforts are underway. Area VI is located 

on the Elm Fork of the North Fork of the 

Red River in Harmon County, Okla.

Portions of the Wichita River Basin 

Chloride Control element, located in 

northwest Texas, have been constructed 

and have been in operation since 1987. 

Features completed and in operation 

include two low-flow collection dams, 

a pump station and diversion pipeline to 

the Truscott Brine Disposal Reservoir.

Recently, construction efforts had been 

placed on hold until a cost-sharing 

partner was identified to assume the 

operation and maintenance responsibili-
Tulsa District Project Update 20 September 2008

Texoma Reallocation Study

Water Resources Development Act of 1986

Study

The Water Resources Development 

Act of 1986 authorized the Assistant 

Secretary of the Army for Civil Works 

to reallocate 300,000 acre-feet of storage 

from hydropower to water supply storage at Lake Texoma. The law specified 

that 150,000 acre-feet of storage would 

go to Texas and Oklahoma with 50,000 

acre-feet of the Texas total going to the 

Greater Texoma Utility Authority. The 

North Texas Municipal Water District 

(NTMWD) has expressed an interest in 

the remaining Texas storage.

The draft final report recommends the 

reallocation of 300,000 acre-feet from 

hydropower to water supply. Water 

supply agreements for 105,000 acrefeet were sent with the report for 

review. Comments from Corps headquarters recommended negotiation with 

Southwestern Power Administration to 

find agreement on hydropower compensation calculations. These negotiations 

are currently underway. It is the team’s 

objective to have the report approved and 

contracts signed this calendar year.

Washita Feasibility Study

Red River and Tributaries above Denison 

Dam, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, 

House Resolution dated February 25, 1938; 

Senate Resolutions dated February 18, 1954 

and June 19, 1962

Study

The Washita River is a tributary to the 

Red River in Oklahoma and flows into 

Lake Texoma. The Oklahoma Water 

Resources Board signed the feasibility 

cost-share agreement in June of 2008. It 

was fully executed by the Commander in 

July 2008. This study is one of three that 

is being integrated into the Oklahoma 

Comprehensive Water Plan.

In 2008, the feasibility cost-share agreement will be executed, an infrastructure 

assessment will be mailed to municipalities and rural water districts and a 

detailed water demand assessment will 

begin.

In 2009, the infrastructure and water 

demand assessments will be completed 

and water supply assessment will begin. 

Infrastructure data will be integrated into 

the GIS database.

This study is scheduled for completion in 

2012.

For updated project information, 

access our web site at:

http:\\www.swt.usace.army.mil

or call 918-669-7366