The recent breach of a flood control dam near Tulsa, Okla., demonstrates the need for state and federal funding for dam rehabilitation, maintenance and repair, according to Scotty Herriman, president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. Record rains caused severe damage to the auxiliary spillway, threatening the dam.
"This catastrophe shows why we need funding to ensure that all of our state's flood control dams are repaired, rehabilitated and ready to face major storm events," Herriman said. "This dam was in good working order but still suffered the effects of this major storm event on top of heavy rain earlier this spring and the massive amount of rain our state experienced in 2007. Imagine what would happen if this dam was past its design life and in need of major repair like some of our state's other flood control dams. This rehabilitation work must continue."
The dam in question, Kadashan Bottom Site 2, was properly inspected and had received the best maintenance the state of Oklahoma could afford, according to Herriman. Record rainfall, however, increased stream flow, and it began to erode the auxiliary spillway. Extensive flooding in 2007 had caused similar flood control structure problems.
"Last year we had over 25 dams that suffered a fate similar to this site," Herriman said. "Our flood control structures are in desperate need of rehabilitation work, especially in light of record rainfall."
In an effort to repair flooding damages, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission has requested from the state legislature a $30 million emergency funding package; this would include more than $8.8 million for flood control dam rehabilitation, $7.1 million for structural operation and maintenance and $3 million for riparian system restoration in Caddo Cuonty. Additional funds have been requested for equipment, roadside erosion control and cost-share dollars to repair conservation practices.
Source: Tulsa Beacon
