Posted on November 9, 2021
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a mission on Wednesday to clear debris from the Hulah Lake Dam, improving the operations of its gates.
The project began Oct. 18 when an Army dive team based in Virginia arrived after doing similar work on Canton Lake and the Great Salt Plain Lake. The team of 13 divers worked with the Tulsa District of the Corps of Engineers to coordinate work.
Lt. Jason Rodriguez, the officer in charge of the mission, said divers worked two at a time to clear debris from the dam’s sluice gates, which are used to manage water level and flow rate through the structure.
Debris buildup in recent years made it more difficult to manage water levels — especially in 2019, when heavy rain raised water levels in the lake, causing flood concerns.
“The importance is to make sure the dams are still operable. This one in particular, there was a lot of debris, branches, trunks making it so they couldn’t open the gates,” Rodriguez said.
Bartlesville History Museum records show the City of Bartlesville and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers worked together to build Hulah Lake, starting in the 1940s. A primary water source for the community, it feeds water into the Caney River, and provides important flood control through the 5,200-foot-long dam.
The lake is also a popular recreation area, offering fishing, hunting, boating and camping, among other activities.
