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Public Open House On Sept. 26
Feedback Wanted On ARS Field Station Lake Dam Rehabilitation

By Valerie Glasgow, USDA/NRCS Project Manager
September 24, 2019

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is holding a public open house for ARS Field Station Lake Dam Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA) on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Southern Plains Range Research Station (SPRRS) / ARS Field Station (2000 18th Street) in Woodward, Oklahoma. Anyone with an interest in the project is encouraged to attend.

During the meeting, the public will be able to review detailed project exhibits that illustrate a series of dam rehabilitation alternatives. No formal presentations will be provided. The meeting will be a question and answer format. Representatives from ARS, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the consultant team will be present to listen to comments and answer questions.

The Field Station Lake is located on the property of the ARS Southern Plains Range Research Station (SPRRS) in the City of Woodward, Oklahoma. The Lake is one block south of Oklahoma Avenue on 34th Street. (See the map below).

Locaiton map Location Map: Field Station Lake and ARS SPRRS (click to enlarge)

The dam was constructed in 1938 to provide irrigation water for agricultural fields located on the SPRRS. While Field Station Lake remains the primary source of irrigation for the SPRRS, it also serves as a recreational site for the Woodward community. The lake is accessed by the City's Goetzinger Walking Trail. It is open to the public for fishing.

An Investigative Evaluation of Field Station Lake Dam (Schnabel 2016) concluded that the dam and spillway structures were in fair to poor condition. Subsequently, the NRCS reclassified the structure as a high-hazard dam, which means that dam failure may cause loss of life and serious damage to homes, industrial or commercial buildings, important public utilities, main highways, or railroads. While there is no immediate danger, the dam must be rehabilitated to meet current NRCS criteria for spillway capacity. The study also evaluated one No Action and three rehabilitation alternatives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Attend the Sept. 26 public open house. If members of the public are unable to attend, but would like to provide written comments, please send them by Oct. 26, which is 30 days after the meeting. Written comments may be sent to Triveece Penelton, Ad Astra Public Engagement Specialist, 929 Walnut, Suite 700, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. If we do not receive responses within the 30-day period, we will assume there is no comment regarding the project at this time. The Draft EA will be made available for public review and comment prior to the issuing the Final EA. For additional information, contact Valerie Glasgow, USDA/NRCS Project Manager, at 405-742-1112 or valerie.glasgow@usda.gov.

Note: The public comment period for this phase of the Environmental Assessment (EA) has closed. There will be another comment period this fall/winter when the draft EA document will be available.