Oklahoma Celebrates Completion of Watershed Rehabilitation - First in the Nation

Lt. Governor Jeri Askins speaks about Oklahoma’s strong leadership in the watershed program, and how the Double Creek Watershed Rehabilitation Project earned another “first” for Oklahoma.

NRCS Conservation Engineering Director Noller Herbert comments on how this project is a prime example of investment and reinvestment.

Local landowners were recognized for the vital role they played in making this project a success.

Approximately 200 attended the Double Creek Watershed Rehabilitation celebration despite a cloudy, windy, cool day.

A celebration ceremony was held near Ochelata, Oklahoma, to mark the completion of the rehabilitation of six upstream flood control dams in the Double Creek Watershed Project. It is the first watershed project in the nation to have all the dams rehabilitated. Rehabilitation included raising the height of the dams, widening the earthen spillways and replacing the principal spillways (concrete inlet tower connected to spillway pipes in the dam).

The ceremony, hosted by the Caney Valley Conservation District, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, was held at Double Creek Watershed Dam No. 6. Speakers included Lt. Governor Jari Askins; Tyler Laughlin, Field Representative for Congressman Frank Lucas; Conservation Engineering Director Noller Herbert, with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach; Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment J. D. Strong; Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director Mike Thralls; Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts President Trey Lam; Landowner and former county commissioner Lee Chew; and Caney Valley Conservation District Chairman Kirk Darnell.

The Lt. Governor commended the watershed program in Oklahoma and the strength of the state’s conservation leadership, starting in the early years of constructing dams and continuing through the current rehabilitation projects. Oklahoma projects have earned the title of “first in the nation” many times. From being the first in the nation to build a watershed dam, to the first in the nation to complete a watershed rehabilitation project, Oklahoma has proven what partnerships can accomplish. Project sponsors, conservation partners, and local landowners were recognized for the vital role they played in the success Double Creek Watershed Rehabilitation.

Conservation Engineering Director Noller Herbert, stated that Oklahoma has long been and remains a leader in implementing watershed projects to protect its communities and its natural resources. Herbert described the Double Creek Watershed project as a prime example of this timely cycle of investment and reinvestment, with $3.8 million in federal funds assisting the rehab of these six dams. Herbert closed by saying, “And as the song says…you’re doing fine Oklahoma!”

The six Double Creek Watershed Dams were built between 1954 and 1955. They provide flood control protection for 3,800 acres of land, U. S. Highway 75 and the town of Ramona. The original dams were constructed with a 50-year life span and due to age and condition of the dams, and development downstream, it was necessary to rehabilitate the dams to bring them up to current dam safety standards and extend their life for another 100 years. The Caney Valley Conservation District is the sponsor for the watershed project. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service assisted in planning, design, and construction of the dams in the 1950s and in the rehabilitation of the dams, which occurred between 2004 and 2009. The Oklahoma legislature provided funding through the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for the 35 percent of the construction and Landrights costs for these rehabilitation projects.