Conservation Programs Division
Watershed Upstream Flood Control Programs
Oklahoma –Watershed Program Leader
Oklahoma leads the nation in the number of small watershed upstream flood control dams constructed with 2,101. The state has always been a leader in flood control beginning with the construction of the first flood control dam in the nation in 1948, Cloud Creek Dam Number 1. The dam located near Cordell, Oklahoma, is in the Cloud Creek Watershed, a tributary to the Washita River and was built by local watershed project sponsors with assistance from the USDA Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service). Funding and technical assistance was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-534).
Oklahoma also has the first completed watershed project in the nation, Sandstone Creek Watershed Project in Roger Mills County. Twenty-four dams were built in the watershed between 1950 and 1953.
Public Law 78-534 authorized pilot projects in eleven watersheds in the nation, including the Washita River Watershed in Oklahoma. In 1954, Congress saw the success and benefits of these pilot projects and passed the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Public Law 83-566) that expanded the program to other approved watersheds.
How the Program Works
The concept behind the upstream flood control program is to build small flood control dams on tributaries upstream from rivers or large streams. The series of dams in a watershed trap water during heavy rainstorms and slowly release it over a period of several days preventing it from all reaching the river at one time, which reduces flooding.
Conservation practices such as terraces, ponds, diversions, grass plantings, and grade stabilization structures are applied to the land in the watershed to prevent erosion, reduce sediment and to help extend the life of the dams.
Local watershed project sponsors request assistance with a feasibility study on a watershed project from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. If the project is determined feasible and project sponsors want to proceed with the project, NRCS provides assistance in developing a watershed plan. This plan may need Congressional approval before funds can be allocated to the project. Once the plan is approved construction is started on sites where local sponsors have obtained easements and rights –of-way. Congress allocates watershed funds to states on an annual basis. Watershed sponsors, usually conservation districts in Oklahoma, assume operation and maintenance for the dams after they are constructed.
Benefits of the Watershed Program
The 2,101 upstream flood control dams constructed in the state have established a $2 billion infrastructure that provides multiple benefits to thousands of citizens. It is estimated that the dams and the established conservation practices in the watersheds provide approximately $71 million in benefits each year.
The lakes not only provide flood control, but they are sources of water for livestock and irrigation, and they provide wildlife habitat and recreational areas. The dams provide protection to over two million acres of agricultural land in flood plains.
Forty-two of the lakes formed by flood control dams provide municipal and rural water supplies to local communities and the 2,101 dams in the state:
- Protects 1,532 county and highway bridges.
- Provides flood prevention for 20,541 farms and ranches.
- Traps 9.2 million tons of sediment each year. Much of this sediment would end up in major streams or lakes, like Lake Texoma, if not trapped by the flood control dams.
- Has created or enhanced 44,399 acres of wetlands.
Flood Control Act of 1944, Public Law 78-534
The Washita River Watershed Flood Control Program was authorized as a pilot project by Public Law 78-534 and since that time 1,106 of the 1,121 planned dams have been built in the sub watersheds of the Washita River. Although watershed planning is essentially complete and the majority of the dams have been constructed, there is still a need for supplements and revisions of the 64 project plans to meet new requirements.
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, Public Law 83-566
Under the authority of PL- 566 local sponsors have requested assistance on over 100 watersheds. From these requests, work plans have been completed and approved for 71 watersheds. Nine hundred and eighty-four dams have been completed and another 322 dams are awaiting construction. The number of dams constructed each year depends on local sponsors obtaining required easements and rights-of-way and on NRCS receiving watershed funds for construction and technical assistance.
Pilot and RC&D Watershed Projects
Six flood control dams in the state were constructed under a pilot flood prevention project (Double Creek Watershed in Washington County) and seven dams were built under the Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D).
Small Watershed Program in Oklahoma Status – March 2005
| |
Planned
|
Constructed
|
| Public Law 566 Flood Prevention |
1,370
|
955
|
| Public Law 566 Multi-purpose |
36
|
29
|
| Total |
1,406
|
984
|
| |
|
|
| Public Law 534 Flood Prevention |
1,107
|
1,090
|
| Public Law 534 Multi-purpose |
14
|
14
|
| Total |
1,121
|
1,104
|
| |
|
|
| Pilot Flood Prevention |
6
|
6
|
| RC&D Flood Prevention |
7
|
7
|
| |
|
|
| Total Dams |
2,540
|
2,101
|
Operation and Maintenance
Operation and maintenance of the 2,101 small flood control dams is a major responsibility for many conservation districts. Some districts have 100 - 150 dams in their district. Some of the jobs districts perform are: making annual inspections; ensuring the dams and earthen spillways are protected with good vegetation and free of erosion; ensuring that the principal spillway inlet tower and pipe are kept free of debris and in good condition; and ensuring that there are no obstructions in the earthen spillway like trees or man-made objects that disrupt the natural water flow.
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission has several technicians that provide assistance and equipment to districts to help with this responsibility. The Commission loans siphons, pumps, mowers, and other equipment to districts and provides training to district employees on operation and maintenance.
