Concerns Are Growing Over Tulsa Levees

Tulsa’s levees are in urgent need of repair, but the fix is at least 5 years and an estimated $100 million dollars away.

Monday, March 25th 2019, 9:22 pm



Tulsa’s levees are in urgent need of repair, but the fix is at least 5 years and an estimated $100 million dollars away.

Tulsa’s levees in District 12 were designed to handle a 100 year flood, but river infill has left them unable to handle more than a 25 year flood, according to the Levee Commissioner who oversees the district.

Tulsa’s levees were built 70 years ago and have the distinction of a design now considered outdated and control equipment that’s obsolete.

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith said despite the estimated cost, “It’s best we invest the money up front instead of paying 10, 20, or 30 times more for all the after effects if it’s not fixed”

What’s at stake are major industries that could be swamped by floodwater, neighborhoods where lives would be in danger, and two refineries that could spill petroleum into the Arkansas River.

Levee District 12 consists of three levees; two run on the north side of the Arkansas between Sand Springs and Tulsa. The other one blocks water from the refinery on the South and West Bank of the river.

Related Story: Tulsa's Aging Levee System Being Examined For Possible Repairs 

Keith says flooding there would catastrophic. “Think about what would happen for anybody along the River, with the oil, the chemicals, all that in the river; the environmental impact would be devastating.”

Levee Commissioner Todd Kilpatrick said Tulsa is six months into an expected two year feasibility study to determine the best plan for rebuilding the levee. After that, he expects design work would take two years, and construction several years after that. Kilpatrick said Tulsa County has $16 million dollars ready to put into the project, on the way to approximately $35 million needed for a local match with federal dollars. The federal contribution is usually 65% on levee projects, he said.

Keith said the preferred replacement would be a lower maintenance, stronger levee that would strong enough to encourage development behind it without concern about flooding. It would also allow people to use the levee as part of a bike trail, while the current levee is blocked off to all traffic.

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