Tulsa District Corps of Engineers celebrates 50th anniversary of Broken Bow dam

Photo By Stacey Reese | Tulsa District Corps of Engineers powerplant specialist Hank Farley led a group of partners throughthe dam following the 50th anniversary celebration at Broken Bow lake. The lake provides recreation to the surrounding area, while also providing electricity to the Eastern part of the nation. The hproject embodies the best of partnerships betwen USACE, the State of Oklahoma and the local community.  

BROKEN BOW , OK, UNITED STATES

09.28.2020

Story by Stacey Reese 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District

A celebration was held on September 12 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Broken Bow Lake in Southeastern Oklahoma. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1958 and was built and designed under the supervision of Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction beginning in October of 1961 and the pool was filled in April of 1970.
Tulsa District Corps of Engineers Commander, Scott Preston noted the importance of the dam and the lake for the region.

“The power plant at Broken Bow consists of two 50-MW generators. To put this in perspective this is the equivalent to 30-40 wind turbines but with bonus of the benefits the lake provides,” said Tulsa District Corps of Engineers Commander Col. Scott Preston.

These are same generators put into service in 1970, which have generated over 6.4 billion kilowatt hours since they were first put online.

The Hochatown area surrounding Broken Bow lake is growing and being developed rapidly. In the last few years what was once a small town with less than 5,000 residents and very little commercial property now has a multitude of places to eat, wineries, breweries, live music venues, gift shops and well over 100 vacation house rentals.

Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, J.D. Strong, director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, Kris Marek Oklahoma Department of Tourism director and Robert Williams of the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce each joined Col. Preston in emphasizing the importance of working together to benefit the area and the state.

“Broken Bow lake has numerous authorized purposes, such as Flood control, hydroelectric power, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management,” said Hugo Area Operations Manager, Joe Custer.

The USACE out granted recreation on Broken Bow to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation manages a very popular year-around trout fishery in the Lower Mountain Fork River, below the lake.

“It was an honor to be a part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Broken Bow Lake,” said Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. “This McCurtain County staple has been pivotal in Oklahoma's tourism and economic development efforts. Thanks to the partnerships of Army Corps of Engineers, state, and county leaders, we are seeing a boom in lodging revenue around the lake. Tourism means economic development, and the success of Broken Bow Lake proves just that.”

Leroy Caplinger, who worked on the dam in various capacities during its construction, was present for the ceremony. According to Caplinger, he earned $2.05 an hour for his efforts.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydropower Program is the largest generator of hydropower in the US, with 75 power-producing dams housing 356 individual generating units. The Corps generates more than 70 billion kilowatt hours per year of clean renewable energy. The revenue generated by the USACE hydropower fleet is used to repay the original construction costs of the hydropower projects and to fund the operation, maintenance and modernization investments of the hydropower fleet.

• Date Taken: 09.28.2020
• Date Posted: 09.28.2020 11:07
• Story ID: 378799
• Location: BROKEN BOW , OK, US