known multiple arch dam disney state oklahoma dam operated creates decades vision planning constructed purposes hydroelectric power generation flood control recreation oklahoma hydroelectric power plant referred longest multiple arch dam world background idea construct dam originated late 1800s nation citizen wanted provide electric power nation colleagues soon conducted survey river later left united_states age worked dam projects india africa returning oklahoma sold land holdings borrowed money friends order purchase rights dam sites decades group known tried secure funding construct dam making trips dam built british plans halted world war refused offer given chicago businessmen wall street crash ended hopes canadian engineers investors building dam supporters dam later included state federal officials argued dam source hydroelectric power stimulate state economy local energy providers opposed possibility state run electric utility onset great depression revive accelerate plans construct dam prior oklahoma representative secured funding survey results study concluded cost million construct dam pensacola site flood control pensacola derived available means identifying site time old store plantation limited state funding limited water supply project proposed federal funding scope hydroelectric power instead flood control oklahoma set january eventually september help oklahoma representative senator engineer president approved million funding new deal public works administration dam higher cost dam attributed project approved additional purposes including hydroelectric power generation recreation additional costs dam covered state government municipal bond appropriated raised million disney pushed legislation dam comparing higher electric utility rates oklahoma compared states senator thomas helped appropriate additional state public funding dam instrumental legislation approved funded main engineer project previous engineer nearby began survey engineering work october multiple arch design adopted materials expensive time great depression limestone foundation considered ideal design served architect dam applied power house kansas_city missouri selected construct major including dam power plant thousands workers moved area work dam construction began eventually earning week construction initial construction began february included excavation earth rock workers constructed east river left place arches normal water level achieved workers removed east constructed west river divert water location future power plant december began concrete pour pouring conducting hours day months totaling total million pounds steel iron placed dam structure reinforce major works dam complete march lake filled end year summer dam power plant original hydroelectric generators began commercial operation dam finished months ahead schedule attributed eastern oklahoma having months record construction obstacles flooding federal government took control dam november aid world war effort returned effect native americans construction pensacola dam resulted loss acres land acres belonged tribe land condemned later flooded reservoir half ceremonial area flooded losing significant portions land tribe members able find work dam project power plant upgrades 1950s additional generators added power station bringing total dam hydroelectric generators upgraded bringing installed capacity power plant increasing generation autumn generator taken service upgraded returned service spring year sixth final generator upgrade completed components principally upgraded turbine shafts runners design multiple arch type consisting arches main auxiliary maximum height river bed total length dam sections multiple arch section long combination sections measure arch dam clear span wide thickness ranges base crest inside thick transverse walls act buttresses widest type prior designed withstand lbf kpa cm2 main eastern end dam long type utilizes tall wide gates operated ton auxiliary located northeast dam controlled wide high gates stretched combined length lip lie elevation sea level tops gates combined maximum discharge lane state highway crosses dam bridge stretches main accessible cars trucks weight dam reservoir storage capacity acre acre flood storage reservoir surface area acres km2 extends upstream creating shoreline normal surface elevation sea level dam power station located base dam western end building long wide tall building houses turbine generators generate million annually fed individual power plant designed accommodate additional generators operates highest generation levels summer lowest winter west power station observation house regulation power station regulated federal power act current license issued set license granted predecessor reservoir elevation exceeds control dam transferred manage flood control larger basin federal regulation coordinate reservoir levels impact regulated releases downstream dam center controversy recent years dam multi purpose project conflicting interests flood control environmental conservation recreation hydroelectric power production request minimal releases prevent flooding areas downstream hot mid summer periods releases minimal reduces dissolved oxygen levels river downstream reductions resulted death fish downstream july significant releases dam drawn opposition people argues large releases effect state economy road recreational rock park flooded downstream inconsistent releases blamed overall problem better regulation releases proposed contemplating installation devices conducting studies measures license addressed problematic levels required plan methods monitor improve levels consistency state water quality standards tourism memorial day labor day offers free tours dam visitors number steadily growing recent years additionally completed tour center serves water fish monitoring research lab offering visitors information water electrical safety
Pensacola Dam