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Video by Brannen Parrish
Behind the Scenes: Critical Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance
We travelled around the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, November 7-8, and visited with our lock operators, navigation office, and powerhouse maintenance folks.

These Tulsa District employees ensure critical infrastructure is operational and ready for service.

Our lock operators and lock maintenance people keep the locks working so commerce and traffic can travel the 127-mile portion of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in Oklahoma.

Our powerhouse and dam maintenance people keep turbines operating so we can generate clean electricity ensuring peak power for customers in the region.

Our Marine Maintenance Unit, performs repairs and maintenance on lock and dams throughout the Tulsa District.

Here's a small taste of the imagery from those visits.
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Behind the Scenes: Critical Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance
1:16
Behind the Scenes: Critical Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance
We travelled around the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, November 7-8, and visited with our lock operators, navigation office, and powerhouse maintenance folks. These Tulsa District employees ensure critical infrastructure is operational and ready for service. Our lock operators and lock maintenance people keep the locks working so commerce and traffic can travel the 127-mile portion of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in Oklahoma. Our powerhouse and dam maintenance people keep turbines operating so we can generate clean electricity ensuring peak power for customers in the region. Our Marine Maintenance Unit, performs repairs and maintenance on lock and dams throughout the Tulsa District. Here's a small taste of the imagery from those visits.
Solving the Puzzle: Rock Core Drilling for Dam Safety Modification Project
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Solving the Puzzle: Rock Core Drilling for Dam Safety Modification Project
The Dam Safety Production Center of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is collecting rock core samples in the area around Keystone Dam. USACE geotechnical engineers will use the data to understand the geological features of the soil at depths up to 210 feet. By collecting rock core samples, USACE engineers can design the project and plan for the construction phase. The Keystone Dam Safety Modification Project is a dam safety initiative to reduce risk of overtopping from statistically possible storm events. The project is in the pre-construction engineering and design phase, which is expected to last several years.
One Piece at a Time: Tenkiller Bridge Demolition Begins
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One Piece at a Time: Tenkiller Bridge Demolition Begins
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District took a major step in the replacement of the State Highway 100 bridge near Gore, Okla., Dec. 8, beginning demolition of the 72-year-old bridge, which spans the Tenkiller Main Spillway. Crews from Kiewit, the contractor performing the work, used a combination of handheld equipment and heavy machinery to remove the first large section of guardrail Dec. 10.
Grip Strength: Dam Safety Production Center conducts anchor testing for low water dam project
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Grip Strength: Dam Safety Production Center conducts anchor testing for low water dam project
The Army Corps of Engineers is designing a low water dam on the Arkansas River near Sand Springs, Oklahoma as part of the Arkansas River Corridor Project. The Dam Safety Production Center began conducting anchor testing late in the summer of 2025. The Arkansas River Corridor Project will promote water quality, ecosystem restoration, and recreation opportunities. Anchor testing gives engineers an idea of how well the earth beneath the structure will bond with the foundation, and ensures the project remains in place during flooding. "The rock isn't always the same in one location versus another. We have a general idea of how this rock would behave from Keystone Dam, just up the road, but to ensure that the localized geology isn't going to significantly impact our results, we want to do a proof verification," said Jeffrey Stevens, geotechnical engineer, DSPC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
State Highway 151 bridge over Keystone Dam to close
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State Highway 151 bridge over Keystone Dam to close
The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close both lanes of the State Highway 151 bridge over Keystone Dam, Sept. 9 to Sept. 17. During this time, crews will repair a damaged hatch cover that forced one lane on the bridge of SH-151 to close, Aug. 14.