Pensacola Dam/WPA Project

Hey Everyone,

It rained last week. It rained almost all week. I'm guessing by our rain gauge about 5 to 6 inches. We needed the rain, but oh the sunshine this week is gorgeous.

The creeks around here came out of their banks and of course the Neosho River up North by Miami, Oklahoma got just a wee bit out of control, so they opened some gates at Grand Lake which is about 18 miles from Vinita, OK.

If you lived around here, you will know about the dam and the flood control system. If you don't, I'll share some of the information with you. The dam was built in the 1930's by WPA. At one time it was one of the longest multiple arch dams in the world. It doesn't hold that title anymore.

This picture was taken from the East end. The water area you see

is where the gates are that can be opened to relieve flooding conditions.

Beyond the concrete wall is another part of the dam, which includes a

golf course, then on further West is the Grand River which has

giant turbines that generate electricity.

A glimpse of the water being released through 3 of the gates that were opened.

The farthest two weren't open, but water seeps through. Scary huh?

Same gates, just closer view. Main spillway

The other two spillways are about a mile East of the main dam and they have between

them another 21 gates that can be utilized for flood control.

This view is looking South from the main dam as the released water flows

South and it converges with the other two spillways and all of it flows

into the Grand River.

The water used to flow and splash more wildly, but they cut some

trenches in the granite bed and it flows more evenly. Not as wild and pretty

as it used to be, but of course only about 3 or 4 gates were open.

This was not a major rain event.

This is the direct flow from the gates immediately to the left on

this photo. This is the third spillway. 

Talk about white water. There are huge granite boulders this water is

flowing over, so don't be fooled into thinking this is a smooth, flat river bed.

Now let's go down below this set of gates.

This picture was from Little Blue. That's below the last spillway. If memory

serves me correctly, I think there was about 3 or 4 gates open, so this is

that water coming directly from the gates.

When they close the gates, some people go down below and get the fish

that are left behind when the flow of the water is shut off by closing the gates.

I've never seen this, but I think it would be cool to watch.

That white water flows and merges with the water from the

other two spillways, then it goes South and there are other

dams that are placed strategically to control the flow.

  

This is up top of the dam at the West end. I was looking at the intake 

for the generation system. This tells me they are at almost capacity on generating

electricity because of all the debris that has been pulled by the current to the intake.

This is where they take in the water for generating electricity. Those chunks of white

you see are from old boat docks on the lake.

There are now new laws about the styrofoam they use under boat docks on

the lake. Now all the styrofoam has to be encased, which is good. Less pollution

on our beautiful lake. 

Almost new visitor center at the main spillway and dam. Grand River

Dam Authority has invested time and money into preserving the

precious Eco system on this river and lake. This center offers a million

dollar view and information on the Eco system.

Hope you enjoyed a short visit to Northeast Oklahoma's summer playground and the even shorter history

of our Pensacola Dam in Langley, Oklahoma.

Until Later,

Okie Girl @ Home