Lake elevations, historic rainfalls prevent 2007 Grand Lake

Vinita — Because of one of the wettest summers in state history, the annual Grand Lake millet seeding project will not take place next month. In fact, the Grand River Dam Authority has announced that the project, which usually takes place in September when Grand Lake is dropped to an elevation 741 feet to expose mudflat areas for seeding, will not happen this year, because of the lingering effects of June and July rainfalls.

“The combination of heavy, and historic, rainfalls in recent months and the current level of Grand Lake would make it very difficult to have a successful seeding project this year,” said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Easley. “We’ve informed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of this and plan to store millet for use at a later time.”

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the federal agency with oversight of the nation’s hydroelectric projects. GRDA operates Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake  under a 30-year hydropower license issued by FERC in the early 1990s. The annual millet seeding project, which began in 1994, is a requirement of that license.

Operating under FERC’s rule curve for Grand Lake elevations, GRDA typically begins dropping the lake level in early August to reach the 741 foot mark by September 1, to facilitate the seeding project. However, because of the flood events and heavy inflows into the Grand River in June and July, Grand Lake has been under the control of the United States Army Corps of Engineers for much of the summer, and will remain so until the elevation goes below 745 feet. As of press time, Grand was still above 746 feet. With the Army Corps periodically curtailing releases from Pensacola Dam to prevent downstream flooding, Grand Lake’s elevation would still be too high for millet seeding in September.

“GRDA follows FERC’s rule curve for Grand Lake elevations unless it goes above 745 feet, as it is now. After that, the Army Corps directs all release operations,” said Easley, adding that GRDA has been in daily contact with Army Corps during recent flooding events. “Normally, the federal government, through these two agencies, has a lot of influence over the elevation of Grand Lake. Unfortunately this year, Mother Nature had a lot to say about that as well.”

Oklahoma historical weather records prove that point. According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, July and August 2007 has been the fifth wettest period for Northeast Oklahoma since 1921. As for June, normal statewide average rainfall is 4.26 inches. In June 2007, that figure jumped to nearly 8.6 inches.