TULSA, Okla. – Words like stilling basin and dewatering are not terms most people use in everyday conversations; for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, they represent an important part of maintaining the district’s infrastructure. At Canton Lake, crews recently dewatered the stilling basin, the reinforced concrete structure below the dam’s outlet works, to inspect areas that are normally submerged and help ensure the dam continues to operate safely and reliably for the communities it protects.
Most visitors to Canton Lake may never think about what lies below the water at the bottom of the dam. Hidden beneath the water during normal operations, the stilling basin remains out of sight until water is removed during...
07.14.2026 | TULSA, OKLAHOMA, US |
Story by Stacey Reese
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of its birthday, June 16.
An American white pelican lands on the river below Kaw Dam near Ponca City, Oklahoma, July 9, 2026.
The river corridor below the dam provides feeding and resting habitat for pelicans and other migratory birds. Wildlife observed along the river highlights the diverse habitat associated with lands and waters managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Stacey Reese)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District conducted public outreach during the annual Tulsa Rock and Mineral Show at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 10 through the 12 to reinforce earth science education and demonstrate why geology and geotechnical engineering are vital elements of water resource projects and military construction projects in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Rhianna Hardy-Janisch, civil engineer, USACE, Tulsa District and a member of the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society, which hosts the annual earth science show, explained that geotechnical engineering and geology are foundational fields in infrastructure from investigations to construction.
