TULSA, Okla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District and partner agencies will mark the completion of an interim solution for the Tenkiller Downstream Trout Fishery Enhancement project with a ceremony at the Tenkiller Power House site at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 19.

The interim solution for the Tenkiller Downstream Trout Fishery Enhancement project includes a Supersaturated Dissolved Oxygen System that targets the stilling basin where the 2011 fish kill occurred.  ODWC will operate the system when the dissolved oxygen level reaches critical lows in that area. The second part of the interim solution is a low flow pipe system which will release water from the surge tank into the stilling basin.

The media is invited to attend and Corps personnel will be available for interviews following the ceremony. Col. Michael Teague, Tulsa District commander, will deliver the opening remarks and Kent Dunlap, natural resources chief, will give an overview and demonstration of the system.  Other speakers include representatives from the Southwestern Power Administration, the City of Gore, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. This is an active hydropower facility, please no open-toe shoes and hardhats will be needed. If attending, please contact Nate Herring at 918-669-7384 or 918-519-8653 as we will need to have the proper number of hardhats.

During the summer 2011 drought, Low dissolved oxygen levels and high water temperatures resulted in a fish kill of both non-native trout and native species of fish. Should similar conditions occur, it could cause another fish kill which could further adversely impact the popular trout fishery below Tenkiller dam. Although one of the congressionally-authorized purposes of Tenkiller Lake is for fish and wildlife, there is no water in the lake allocated for that purpose and all water storage is contracted to other users.  ODWC relies on limited donated storage to release water for the fishery. The interim solution allows ODWC to better utilize the donated water for the fishery in times of severe drought.

Several federal, state and local agencies, water supply entities, and private organizations were involved in this endeavor.