Conservation Programs Division

Watershed Flood Control Programs

Flood Control Rehabilitation

Many of the early-constructed flood control dams in the state were built with a designed life span of 50 years. Oklahoma has 59 dams that were 50 years old by 2003. By 2005, that number was 132; by 2010 it will reach 463; and by 2015, 1,090 or more than one half of the dams will have reached or exceeded their design life. Some dams need rehabilitation to ensure they continue to function as they were designed and remain safe.

Today many dams are in a far different setting than when they were originally constructed. Population has grown; residential and commercial development has occurred both upstream and downstream from dams; land uses have changed; sediment pools have filled; and concrete and metal components have deteriorated. Today some dams do not meet current dam safety regulations that have been enacted and revised with more stringent requirements than when the dams were built.

Before the year 2000 the Natural Resources Conservation Service did not have the authority to provide technical or financial assistance to watershed project sponsors in rehabilitating aging dams. Watershed project sponsors (in most cases conservation districts) do not have adequate funds to rehabilitate the dams. Congress passed the Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000, (authored by Congressman Frank Lucas, Cheyenne, Oklahoma) amending the Watershed Protection and Flood Control Act, to authorize the NRCS to provide technical and financial assistance to project sponsors in rehabilitating the dams. The purpose of rehabilitation is to extend the service life of the dams and bring them into compliance with applicable safety and performance standards or to decommission the dams so they no longer pose a threat to life and property.

The 2002 Farm Bill amended the Act of 2000 to authorize $600 million in funding for rehabilitation for years 2003 through 2007. The federal government provides 65 percent of the funding for rehabilitation projects and project sponsors provide 35 percent. Sponsors make application for funding to the NRCS. Projects are selected on a priority basis with those with high safety and health concerns receiving the highest priority.

Oklahoma was the first state to complete a rehabilitation project. Sergeant Major Creek Dam Number 2 in Roger Mills County was rehabilitated as part of a pilot project in July 2000. Sergeant Major Creek Dam Number 1 was rehabilitated a few months later.

Sandstone Creek Dam Number 17A in Roger Mills County was the first dam in the nation to be rehabilitated under the 2000 Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments. The project was completed in June 2003.

By 2005 Oklahoma had rehabilitated six watershed dams and 19 more were in various stages of planning, design or construction. Another 34 dams had initial rehabilitation studies completed. It is estimated that it will take $30 million to rehabilitate the highest priority dams in the next five years.