TULSA, Okla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commander, Col. Michael Teague announced the signing of a contract for construction measures to protect the trout fishery below Tenkiller Lake. 

The contract will provide a special low flow pipe from an existing surge tank located at the dam and installation of a supersaturated dissolved oxygen system below the dam.  These two items along with cooperative measures by the Southwestern Power Administration and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are important interim steps while searching for a permanent solution to the sustainment of the downstream fishery.

The agencies are cooperating to implement solutions which could not be accomplished by any single agency.  The Southwestern Power Administration funded the low flow pipe and dissolved oxygen system.  The Corps of Engineers performed the design, acquisition and contract management.  ODWC will maintain and operate the dissolved oxygen system as well as monitor river conditions and request releases using the low flow pipe.  ODWC has installed numerous stream gauging stations using funds donated by Trout Unlimited Oklahoma Chapter and Tulsa Fly Fishers. 

As there is no permanent storage in Tenkiller Lake allocated for the fishery, storage for releases by ODWC is being donated by Sequoyah County Water Association, Tenkiller Utilities Authority and Lake Region Electric Development.  Oklahoma Water Resources Board has been actively involved by providing temporary water rights to ODWC for the donated water.

Barry Bolton, Chief of Fisheries, ODWC, said, "I appreciate the Corps of Engineers and Southwestern Power Administration's efforts to more effectively manage this important resource which generates more than $2 million dollars annually for the economy of NE Oklahoma."

 “We are looking forward to getting these facilities in place to help give ODWC more options in utilizing the donated water storage for the benefit of the fishery below the dam,” said Fritha Ohlson, Civil Engineer (Hydrologic), Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.  Ohlson  added, “They also provide tools to conserve valuable water resources for all purposes during times of drought.” 

Col Teague praised the efforts of many people in bringing about these first steps in the efforts to sustain the trout fishery as agencies work together to find a permanent solution.