VIEW: 19-23: Flood Afterthoughts

VIEW FROM HERE
By Bob McDowell (Born Neil Carson) Number 19-23
FLOOD AFTERTHOUGHTS Week of 2019/06/10
Now that it appears the worst of the 2019 river floods has past and the water levels
are receding, it seems proper to reflect on what happened, what could have been done
different, and what may be facing us during the rest of the year. It appears that this year
the water levels have risen to above previously high records, at least in the Sand Springs
levee area.
First, it seems that the Army Corps of Engineers, which is the operator of most of
the dams in the State as well as the Kerr/McClelland commercial waterway from the Tulsa
Port of Catoosa to the Arkansas State line at Fort Smith, as well as on to the Mississippi
River may have not begun soon enough a draw-down of water in the Keystone Dam on the
Arkansas River West of Tulsa. Information is that there is a commercial consideration there
as the dam generating section has a contract with an electric company and they have a
minimum water level required to meet the electric requirements.
Even so, it seems to me that once the storms began upstream in the watershed an
opening of some of the gates to let some water go would have been practical and wise.
Then when the size of the 'rainy season' began to show up an increase could have been
started, all of which would not have developed floods. All that is in the past and as the old
saying goes "hindsight is strictly 20-20". It should be remembered, however, that there
are certain firm restrictions placed on the Corps pertaining to their decision to open or close
the flood gates, as well as the generation gates. We in the 'masses' are not furnished these
rules. Sounds like the secrecy surrounding the "Rules of Engagement" placed on combat
military during he last Administration!!
In my professional opinion, from education and experience, when the water is back
to near normal and access is again possible, is that it will be found that the bottom of the
river is lower than before from the sand and silt having been washed on downstream.
Even in the canal sections this could be found to be the case, since it is expected that lock
and dam flood gates were opened and flow substantially increased. The size of the flow
makes it possible that it will not be necessary to do extensive dredging to restore
commerce.
It seems obvious to me that the current dirt levees are not sufficient. While
visiting in Cincinnati OH on business some decades ago their downtown levees really
impressed me. They were behind the docks and attendant railroad tracks and were
concrete. Where streets and tracks went through the levee there were gates that
could be closed that could seal and provide continuity to the wall system plus
substantial pump stations to remove any water from behind the levee from either rain
or leakage. Of course, the river there is deeper and larger boats are using the river,
and flood stages may be more often.
Still, it is in my memory about news(?) stories during and after the New Orleans
hurricane some years ago that a Tulsa manufacturing company was able to ship there
some very high volume pumps to assist in the dewatering of the flooded, below sea level,
areas. They might have had some available in stock here! It is also in my memory that
the commission managing their levee system had diverted funding for levee improvement
to other uses thus rendering them inadequate. Here calls for more funding went un-
answered in Washington with such funds diverted to areas with 'more population and
business'. In any event without the system of multi-use dams we have here, the situation
could have been many times worse.
A word of caution about the future is due now. In speaking with my No. 2 Son,
Tom, living in Southwest Metro Denver recently he advised that the snow pack is over
twice as high in the mountains as recorded in recent history. One ski area, A-Basin, has
not closed and most, if not all, of the others are re-opening and expecting to stay open
until August. The Arkansas River begins just Southwest of Leadville in the mountains.
When that snowmelt begins there will be some substantial flooding likely since the recent
rains in Kansas have reduced the need for irrigation and so the melt will flow on down
the river. Hopefully we will not have the massive rainfall then such as we experienced
this Spring.
END
Composed June 04, 2019
Robert W. McDowell, Jr. © 2019 841 Lynwood Lane
918-451-1051 Broken Arrow OK 74011-8608
Email: abdmcfpi@localnet.com