Jeremy Herrington’s family nearly lost it all in 2019 when an historic water release from Lake Keystone flooded the Arkansas River.
As the river spread across the bank into his Sand Springs neighborhood, water rose behind the west Tulsa levees near his metal forming business on Charles Page Boulevard.
Herrington’s livelihood and home were in jeopardy.
“I’m watching my home flood and there’s nothing I could do,” he said.
The 80-year-old levees have long been a source of anxiety for people who call west Tulsa and Sand Springs home. In 2019, they were put to the test. The National Guard was called in to coordinate emergency efforts to save the structures. City and county officials were preparing evacuation plans in case the levees failed.
Seven years after Herrington’s harrowing experience, the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday it will start a $191 million construction project in 2027 to repair sections of the levees.
Running along Charles Page Boulevard from the west edge of downtown and into Sand Springs, the earth embankments protect 20 miles, $2 billion worth of property and some 10,000 residents.
Extending from Terwilliger Park in west Tulsa to Newblock Park less than a mile from downtown, the project will take several years to complete, said Taft Price, a spokesman and hydrologist for the Corps’ Tulsa District. He added it may require environmental remediation and private property agreements to acquire more land as things get underway.
During the April 30 meeting, Corps risk manager Chris Baker told about 50 attendees the upcoming project won’t eliminate the flood risk, but it will greatly reduce the chance of a breach or catastrophic flooding.
“That’s roughly what we call a 1 in 100 and 1 in 250 chance each year,” Baker said. “So not very, not very likely. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t.”
He said the project is designed to control seepage by installing new drain systems and reinforcing key sections of the levee so if water rises above it, it won’t immediately erode and fail. It will involve repairing the two levees in phases from west to east.
Herrington just hopes it’s enough to protect his family and their house.
“We made an investment in that home, but I’m telling you, if they flood us again, we’re gone,” he said. “I spent $20,000 just putting doors and ornamental stuff on the house. I’m pulling every door off this place, and I’m putting them in a truck, and I’m leaving.”
As for the next steps, Tulsans can follow along on the project website or Facebook. Residents can also email questions for the Corps to TulsaLeveeProject@usace.army.mil.
