Safety Concerns Raised Over Tulsa Levee

The system of levees in west Tulsa is under pressure, but not from high water; instead, most of the pressure is coming from old age, but relief could be on the way.

Now that we've had a few weeks of relatively dry weather, the pressure is off the flood control system in eastern Oklahoma, and the gates can be opened again at Keystone.

That's putting a lot of water into the Arkansas River Channel, and it's a reminder of the importance of the flood control system downstream of Keystone Dam.

Tulsa County Levee Commissioner Todd Kilpatrick can easily point out problems with the system that protects most of Sand Springs and west Tulsa. He's worried floods like those in the 1980s could trigger a major failure because relief valves in the levee no longer work.

"And so when you have that loaded levee system, you have no way of relieving that pressure, and when it's loaded, chances are it's going to fail," Kilpatrick said.

The levee hasn't been under much pressure lately. The Corps was holding water back in Keystone to make room downstream - they've helped study the problems with the levee.

Colonel Richard Pratt with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said, “Make sure if there are areas of risk they understand them; and if we can help them do technical studies, we're here to help.”

Kilpatrick said the price of repairing the levees and pumping stations is about $34 million. The money would replace the early World War II model pumps - so old that antique plans on the wall show the system exactly as it is today.

There's potentially $10 million for repairs in the city and county vision plans, which could trigger more federal funding.

Just making the repair would take five years, while Sand Springs and west Tulsa would remain vulnerable.

Kilpatrick said, "It might not be as high a priority as I would like it, but it's moved up the ladder, and I'm grateful for that."

The Corps of Engineers expects to keep the water flowing for several weeks, to bring the level of Lake Keystone back to normal, about the end of the month.