February 27th GRDA Updates

February 27, 2018

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Drought Busted by Flooding Conditions

After months of drought conditions, Spring has come to the region early with a deluge of rain in the past week. The result has been a scurry of activity both at the lakes and the Illinois River to try to minimize the amount of damage sustained.

The accumulation of over 8 inches of rain in the Grand Lake area resulted in an early-season need to open the flood gates at Pensacola Dam on Saturday. GRDA officials were directed to open 5 gates on the east spillway and 1 on the main spillway for a total of 6 floodgates opened after water levels rose from 742 feet last week to over 745 feet on Saturday. On Sunday, with over 76,000 cubic feet per second of inflows coming into Grand Lake, gate operations increased to seven gates on the east spillways opened and 2 main gates opened when elevation on Grand rose to 747 feet, which peakedon Monday at 748 feet. Water elevation rose to 627 feet by Monday on Hudson Lake, well above the normal level of 619 feet, and one flood gate was opened on Sunday. GRDA officers remained busy clearing people from below the area of the floodgates over the weekend, and emergency personnel also responded to calls at areas of high water for water rescues and flooded motorists. Fortunately no injuries were reported.

With 8 to 10 inches of rain measured in the Illinois River basin this week, a Major Flood Warning was issued by the National Weather Service where the river rose quickly, resulting in the need for float operators to mobilize their forces to move equipment and property to higher ground and prepare for recovery operations once floodwaters recede. State highway 10 near Tahlequah was closed to traffic once waters covered the roadway on Saturday. The Illinois River crested on Sunday near Tahlequah at 19.5 feet where the flood stage is at 11 feet.

The early onset of flooding conditions in northeast Oklahoma serve as a reminder of the hazards we face from Mother Nature. When operating a vehicle, remember to not risk yourself or your passengers by driving into high water. If you can’t see the roadway because it is covered by water, Turn Around, Don’t Drown. The barricades and High Water signs are placed to close a roadway for a reason; to warn you not to attempt to drive through the area of flooded roadways. When you fail to head these warnings, you are not only endangering yourself and others, but you are facing hefty fines from citations. Our officers see motorists make this mistake every time we get flooding conditions, and all too often it can have devastating consequences. Not only are you putting yourself and your passengers at risk, but also the lives of the emergency responders that are sworn to come to your aid.

Turn Around Don't Drown

Responsible Beverage Service Should be Part of Your Staff Training

If your business serves or sells low point or alcoholic beverages, then you need the Responsible Beverage Sales & Service Training as part of the regular instruction given to your employees. This free training is provided by the Health Department anywhere in the state at no cost, and will teach your staff how to recognize people they should not sell alcoholic beverages to, the laws pertaining to beverage sales and how to reduce your liability for over serving your customers. The training provides clerks, servers and managers with the knowledge and skills to sell and serve alcoholic beverages safely, responsibly and legally.

Call 918-595-4513 for more information

Cold Water Immersion

Did You Know?

True or False: If someone falls overboard, the first thing you should do is jump in right away to assist them.

Answer: False. Jumping overboard to rescue someone should only be used as a last resort. Safe boating requires that the first thing you do is to reach for the person, using either your arm or something nearby that they can grab onto. If you’re more than an arm’s length away, the next option is to throw them an inflatable, floatable device. If you aren’t close enough to reach or throw something, the next step is to row closer until you are. Only go in after someone as a last resort, and only if you are wearing a life jacket and are a strong swimmer with experience in lifesaving. Otherwise, you could end up having two men overboard instead of just one.

Know and Obey All Buoys and Markers

Boating Tips From the GLSPS

Two 6-volt batteries can be connected to create a 12-volt system by wiring the two batteries in a series. This requires connecting each cable to the positive terminal of one battery and to the negative terminal of the other. This connection is seen typically in older boats and some diesels. Modern boats that require two 12-volt batteries will usually be connected in parallel. This is done by connecting the cables positive to positive and negative to negative. There will also be a battery switch indicating battery #1, battery #2 or both batteries which activates the parallel contact between them. Do not leave this switch in parallel. Otherwise, the weaker battery will drain the charge from the stronger battery until they both have the same lower voltage. It should only be used temporarily to provide extra starting power as needed.

Boat Smart from the start and take a course from America’s Boating Club, the United States Power Squadrons. For local information visit our website at: usps.org/grandlake or on Face Book at GLSPS.

By the Book

The Administrative Regulations of GRDA describe the organizations, operations, and procedures for the Grand River Dam Authority with respect to its administration, rulemaking, and other activities and are intended to supplement and interpret pertinent provisions of state statutes.

The following information are excerpts of the GRDA Administrative Regulations Title 300 Chapter 35 that are provided in an effort to educate the public about what regulations are enforced on GRDA waterways and properties. Many of these regulations have changed effective September 11, 2017. All GRDA regulations are available for review at GRDA.com.

VESSELS

300:35-7-5. Water muffling

Except for a sanctioned event, no person shall operate a vessel or motor which is not equipped with a muffler or muffler system in good working order. The use of cutouts, removal of mufflers or muffler baffles, cutting or punching of holes in mufflers or otherwise modifying the original muffler or muffling system installed by the manufacturer or any subsequent muffler or muffling system so as to increase or modify the noise level is prohibited.

300:35-7-6. Noise abatement

No person shall unlawfully disturb the peace through operation of a vessel or by a person's actions within fifty (50) feet of any public or private dock or at any location between the hours of 9:00 p.m. through 9:00 a.m. C.S.T.

300:35-7-7. Wake damage

All vessel operators shall be held responsible for any damage that their wake might cause to property. No person shall operate or give permission to operate a vessel in a wake zone at a speed which is other than reasonable and prudent and which shows due regard for the existence of actual or potential hazards and obstacles, or in such a manner as to endanger the life, limb or property of any other person, or in such a manner as to create a wake. "No wake zone" means with buoys or within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any boat ramp, dock, pier or anchored or moored vessel.