TULSA — An uninhabited area of the old Washita River basin is containing excess water after the river breached a section of the North Cumberland Levee, June 21.

No homes or residences are located in the containment area.

The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with property owners, local officials, state and federal agencies to assess the damage and ensure public safety by blocking access to the levee and the inundation area.

The levee remained completely intact for more than 24 hours after water topped the structure on the morning of June 20. Flooding eventually resulted in a breach to a section toward the south end of the north levee.

The North Cumberland Levee is a Lake Texoma project, located approximately 16 miles northwest of Durant, Oklahoma. The levee was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and constructed during the construction of Denison Dam.

The old Washita River Basin is an unpopulated area behind the levee used for natural gas and oil production.
 
According to National Weather Service’s Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center, the Washita River reached a record 48.7 feet at the Washita River Gage near Dickson, Oklahoma June 19, at 9 a.m., breaking the previous record, set in May 1987, by more than three feet.

The Dickson gage is about 45 river miles upstream of the Cumberland levee.

On May 28, the Corps worked with local officials to reinforce the levee and successfully prevented an overtopping by windrowing a settled section of the structure. Rainfall from Tropical Depression Bill, combined with elevated water levels caused the river to overtop the levee.

The Tulsa District regularly updates its website to keep the public informed about reservoir levels, water releases, campground availability and boat ramp status. Visit the Tulsa District website at www.swt.usace.army.mil.