Photo By Stacey Reese | Southwestern Division Commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Beck is interviewed after...... read more read more
Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division and it’s Tulsa and Little Rock Districts joined partners from along the McClellan‐Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System at the Tulsa Ports, Port of Catoosa June 4 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the waterway.
This commemoration was one of several virtual and in-person events held throughout 2021 to celebrate and highlight the importance of the MKARNS to the nation.
The events focused on the importance of the system over the past 50 years and brought attention to the waterway that strategically connects the heartland of the United States with the rest of the world.
“This versatile waterway is a crucial part of the nation’s transportation system, providing navigation, as well as, hydropower, recreation, water supply and fish and wildlife habitats,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Beck, commander, Southwestern Division.
Originating at the Port of Catoosa, the system runs 445 miles southeast through Oklahoma and Arkansas to the Mississippi River.
Beck joined Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum, Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Director of the Arkansas Waterway Commission Cassandra Caldwell and others to talk about the past, present and future of the system.
Named in honor of two of the waterway's most persistent and persuasive supporters, the late U. S. Senators John L. McClellan of Arkansas and Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, the system crosses two of the Division’s districts, the Tulsa District in Oklahoma and the Little Rock District in Arkansas.
The waterway originally opened on June 5, 1971 with 17 locks and dams. USACE construction spanned more than a quarter of a century at a cost of $1.3 billion. In July 2004, an 18th lock and dam opened on the system. Each Lock and Dam has a minimum depth of 9 feet and are 110 feet wide and 600 feet long.
Today, the MKARNS serves a 12-state region, the Port of Catoosa being the most westerly inland river port that is ice free year-round. The states include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho.
Each speaker gave a nod to the opening of the MKARNS and President Richard M. Nixon who 50 years ago presided over the first official event on the system and discussed the impacts of the waterway in 1971.
“…I realize what a momentous time in history this has been. And that doubles my pride in sharing the dedication of this magnificent project – a project which was a bold dream… but is now a grand reality and for generations to come will be a living monument to what man and nature together can accomplish,” said Nixon at the dedication.
But, it’s the future of the waterway that increased the excitement the speakers’ voices.
“I am excited to see the support from the Administration in the fiscal year 2022 budget,” said Beck. “The President’s budget has allocated $96 million dollars for a construction new start at Three Rivers in Arkansas. This project is critical to navigation and environmental issues at the confluence of the Arkansas, Mississippi, and White rivers. Additionally, the budget also includes $56 million for the Little Rock District and $37 million for the Tulsa District for MKARNS Operations and Maintenance projects.”
Currently, USACE maintains a 9-foot. channel depth on the MKARNS. A project of great interest has been the increase in depth of the channel from 9 feet to 12 feet. A project of this nature was authorized in 2005 by Congress.
“Our team is also looking at the depth of the channel,” said Beck. “Although funds have not been appropriated for this project, our Little Rock District has the lead for this initiative and received $559,000 in the work plan for the MKARNS 12-foot Channel. They are in the process of updating the design and economics, preparing a new cost estimate, and researching requirements necessary to begin construction.”
The 12-foot Channel is in the project, engineering and design phase and scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023. Today, the 1,500 short tons of capacity could be increased by 200 tons for each additional foot of draft.
Throughout the life of the MKARNS SWD and the Tulsa and Little Rock districts have worked with partners and stakeholders to improve all aspects of the system and prepare it for the future.
Tim Gatz, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation expressed to Brig. Gen. Beck the state’s appreciation for the partnerships between USACE and Oklahoma.
“The relationship that we have with the Army Corps extends far beyond the navigation system,” said Gatz. “We are very appreciative for their partnership both from the Tulsa district and the Little Rock District, and the work that they do and the things they bring to transportation in Oklahoma every day.”
MKARNS Fast Facts
- There are four designated Foreign Trade Zones on the MKARNS at the Ports of Little Rock, Muskogee, Catoosa and Pine Bluff.
- Forty-two countries have traded commerce with the Arkansas River Basin Region via the MKARNS.
- The inland waterway transportation supports about 70,000 jobs in water transportation and about 800,000 jobs at industries dependent on barge-oriented commodities.
- 2020 tonnage on the entire McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System totaled 10.3 million tons, with a value of $4.1 billion.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2021 16:46 |
| Story ID: | 398435 |
| Location: | DALLAS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
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