The Oklahoma Conservation Commission says were it not for 2 thousand flood control dams in the state, this week’s flooding would be far worse.
Some of the dams have been in place for half-a-century according to Ron Hays and the Oklahoma Farm Report.
Bryan Painter with the OCC wrote about the benefits of the system.
“A Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) ‘National Watershed Benefits’ computer model estimates the daily monetary benefits resulting from watershed projects for a specific storm. These benefits are essentially the damages that would have occurred from that storm had the dams not been built. The report detailed $16.5 million in monetary benefits resulting from the watershed projects in Oklahoma during the 24-hour period from 7 a.m. Monday (May 20) to 7 a.m. Tuesday (May 21).
Larry Caldwell who is a Watershed Specialist with the Commission said the flooding in Stillwater would have been much worse without the dam system in place.
“For as much flooding as there was around Stillwater, it could have been much worse,” Caldwell said. “The 34 flood control dams in Payne County did their jobs and significantly reduced the depth and extent of flooding on many of the tributaries within Stillwater Creek and Long Branch Watersheds.”
