During the 2019 flood in Oklahoma, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS ) flooding – caused by heavy rainfall – halted traffic on the 445-mile navigation channel.
W D Mayo Lock & Dam 14, the first of five lock and dam structures in Oklahoma, was submerged by floodwaters and crews from the Tulsa District’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent weeks removing sand and trash transported down the Arkansas River.
According to USACE, MKARNS is a vital economic enabling resource for Oklahoma, Kansas and other Southwestern states. The USACE-operated navigation system extends from Port of Catoosa all the way to the Mississippi River and allows year-round transport of goods.
The Tulsa District’s navigation section is now working to remove shoals, which form when floodwaters recede.