Richard L. Lane, NRCS planning engineer, and Gary Utley, NRCS hydraulic engineer, both of Stillwater, presented the "very preliminary" report to City Manager Bill Baker, Sallisaw Mayor Shannon Vann, and other city officials.
City officials asked the NRCS to do the study when another study done by the engineering firm Hawkins-Weir in Van Buren, Ark., recommended a second water impoundment lake be built north of Brushy Lake at an estimated cost of $38 million.
Baker said he asked for the NRCS study because, "I doubt the citizens could afford a $38 million lake."
The preliminary study, which cost the city nothing, indicated that watershed lake Number 28 and Number 30 could be improved to the point where they could be holding lakes for Brushy Lake at a much lower cost than $38 million, although they hesitated to pinpoint a cost because the city's part of the project was not in their field of expertise.
Utley and Lane explained that all three watershed lakes - Number 28, 29 and 30 - are in the same watershed and where built about 40 years ago to control flooding. The lakes were built for a 50-year lifespan and are nearing the end of that period, and all have been designated as hazardous but not because of their construction. Utley said the watershed lakes are now designated as hazardous because of the growth downstream. When the lakes were built, there were no or few homes and businesses downstream. Now there are, which prompted the hazardous designation. The designation is not related to possible failure of the dams.
Utley said it would be possible to improve all three lakes to the point where they could produce about 6.7 million gallons of water per day (MGD), which is the amount the city is aiming for in 50 years. At the present time, the average water use by the city is about 2.3 MGD. It has been estimated that with economic and residential growth the city's need for water will grow to about 6.7 MGD within 50 years.
Utley also explained that the federal government and city would share the cost of improving the watershed lakes on a 65-35 percent basis, with the city paying the 35 percent. However, he added, the government is only improving the watershed lakes to the point where they will protect businesses and homeowners downstream. Any improvements, such as installing water pumps and water lines to the water treatment plant, would be paid by the city entirely.
Utley also pointed out that, "Sallisaw has a unique opportunity here. Not many cities have this potential. I think these sites are very feasible for additional water."
He explained that the federal government is anxious to improve the watershed lakes throughout the country, and Oklahoma is the first state to work diligently toward that goal. An added benefit, Utley said, is that, with the city's intent to provide additional water sources for growth, the government will consider that an added bonus and will most likely move the three lakes up on the list of those projects to be funded.
"There's not a lot of funding right now, but being a municipal water supply, that might move you up on the priority list...they are looking for where to put the money where it will do the most good," Lane said.
"You are surrounded here by water," Lane said, "and all you need is a bucket."
When Baker asked how much an in-depth study would cost, Lane replied, "A couple pieces of paper, a few telephone calls and a little bit of time." Lane said an in-depth study would be done by the NRCS at the request of the city, and the request should be made to the local NRCS office. The city has had two engineering studies done for new water sources, which cost several hundred thousand dollars and about which some city commissioners have complained.
"I think you'll get a letter pretty quick," Baker responded.
Lane explained that, if the city wanted to go ahead with using the watershed lakes as water sources, the NRCS would oversee the design of the lake improvements with the city's input.
Utley said the study, and, if approved, the project to rehabilitate the watershed lakes as water sources for the city would take several years. The best estimate, he said, would be that the city could have water from the watershed lakes in 2012.
Baker said he would bring the project before the city commission at their next meeting, on July 14.
