Sen Inhofe's Office Announces New Funding For Levee Repairs In Tulsa

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe’s office announced plans to request an “earmark” to fund the next phase of planning for repairs to Tulsa’s levee system. The plan to request $13.8 million dollars would allow the Corps of Engineers to start making repairs in the fall of 2023.

Inhofe’s request could lead to congressional action that approves the funding this fall.

The Corps of Engineers estimates repairing the levee could cost $125 million dollars, in a plan to install new drains and pumps, with new filtration for the earthen system. It was tested in 2019 during flooding and according to the Corps, was only saved from failure by $3 million dollars worth of emergency repairs, that including activating the National Guard to move sandbags and pump out water.

 According to INCOG, Levee District 12 protects eight square miles, at least 4,000 pieces of property including everything from single-family homes to a refinery. The property protected by the aging levee is valued in the billions of dollars.

 The Congressional funding would activate $5 million dollars in local matching funding to continue work. County Commissioner Karen Keith said “It kick starts the process and I tell you, I’m so happy to hear in 2023 we might be putting a shovel in the ground, that’s huge.