Funding Needed To Make Arkansas River Low-Water Dam Safer

Early in the search, the flow was shut off at Keystone Dam, but since the river moves only two miles an hour, it was late afternoon when river dropped and rescuers were able to safely walk around.

Thursday, August 1st 2013, 10:05 pm

By: Emory Bryan

Funding Needed To Make Arkansas River Low-Water Dam Safer

A day-long search for three missing fisherman ended with three bodies pulled out of the Arkansas River Thursday.

Witnesses said the first man went in and went under and the two others died trying to save him. But it was likely an impossible effort from the start.

Anyone who ignores the warnings and goes into the water near the dam doesn't have much of a chance to get out. The smooth flow of water over the dam hides the danger that's down at the bottom. There's a rolling effect in the water that will pull down almost anything that gets in there.

It's why even trained rescuers stayed at a distance until the flow was reduced.

"Life jacket, expert swimmers won't make it out of a low water dam once it starts churning and it was rolling pretty good," said Tulsa Fire Captain Stan May.

Early in the search, the flow was shut off at Keystone Dam, but since the river moves only two miles an hour, it was late afternoon when river dropped and rescuers were able to safely walk around.

Even then, they didn't get near the dam.

"You get caught in this hydraulic effect and even if you're an Olympic swimmer, you're not going to get out," said Matt Meyer.

Meyer is the director of RiverParks and would love the long-planned but never funded redesign of the dam go forward. It would cost about $25 million.

"Some sort of cascade or stair step, which if you fall in the river somewhere, you might get some bumps or bruises but it would spit you out at the bottom," Meyer said.

The gentle slope on the dam is visible when it's dry, but that shape creates a turbulent, rolling effect when there's water, which is why if the dam is ever improved, the new design would step the water down gradually.

The danger of the dam is well known, warnings are clearly posted, and the signs have flashers to indicate the water is rising.

Whenever someone ignores that and gets in the water the odds are against them getting out alive.

"But it's certainly not safe if you get caught up in it," Meyer said.

Tulsa voters have twice rejected the taxes to pay for improvements to the dam, and a plan for the state to pay for it was dropped by the legislature.

The design and permitting of a better, safer dam is almost done--there's just no money for pay for it.