TULSA — Floodwaters from the Washita River are being contained in the old Washita River basin after record flooding caused by Tropical Depression Bill caused it to begin topping the Cumberland Levee on the morning of June 20.
An uninhabited containment area behind the Cumberland Levee, used for natural gas and oil production, is containing the excess water until river levels to recede. No homes or residences are located in the affected area.
The Corps is working with property owners, local officials, state and federal agencies and has experts on the ground monitoring the levee around-the-clock.
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.
The Cumberland Levee is a Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, located approximately 16 miles northwest of Durant, Oklahoma.
The levee was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and constructed as part of the Lake Texoma project.
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.