Tulsa West Tulsa Levee Study Included in Supplemental Disaster Recovery Funding

TULSA, Oklahoma, July 6 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following news release:

The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will receive $3 million to conduct a feasibility study related to the Tulsa West Tulsa Levee System.

The study will afford Tulsa District an opportunity to identify recommendations for Congress to address the levee system's flood risk reduction capabilities.

On Thursday, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the Tulsa West Tulsa Levee is among the projects in 14 states and two territories where feasibility studies related to inland and coastal flooding will be conducted.

Funding for the study is provided by Public Law 115-123, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, signed into law February 9, 2018.

The Tulsa District will begin working with the local levee sponsor, Tulsa County, to accomplish the study after guidance and funding are officially received from Headquarters, USACE.

A timeframe for the study has not yet been established but once completed, USACE will issue the report to Congress detailing recommendations and available options related to future federal investment in the structure.

The Tulsa West Tulsa Levee System is a federally constructed, locally-owned flood risk reduction structure that stretches approximately 18 miles from Sand Springs to Tulsa into Tulsa County along the Arkansas River.

The Tulsa West Tulsa levee system was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1941 and constructed in 1944. After construction was completed the system was turned over to Tulsa County for operations and maintenance.

Among other things, Public Law 115-123 provided $17.398 billion for disaster recovery in six appropriations accounts: Investigations; Construction; Mississippi River and Tributaries; Operation and Maintenance; Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies; and Expenses.

"In providing the current working estimates of funds required to fully fund these studies and construction projects, the Corps is showing its commitment to "moving dirt" and, more importantly, to completing studies and construction," said Mr. R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

The tables listing the studies and projects receiving funding are posted at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Budget/ under "Supplemental Appropriations for Disasters 2018." There are two separate categories under which projects are funded, "Long-Term Disaster Recovery Investment Program" and "Short-Term Repairs". In the cases of Operation and Maintenance and Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, the tables supersede previously posted tables.