The Lawton Water Authority Receives $2,000,000 Grant from the OWRB for Dam Rehabilitation
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Lawton Water Authority (Authority) received approval for $2,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s infrastructure at Gondola Lake Dam. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the dam will be financed by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program in addition to loans and local funds to secure the necessary remainder for the project, estimated to be $6,198,000.00.
The Lawton Water Authority is addressing critical rehabilitation needs for the aging Gondola Lake Dam, which plays a vital role in supporting recreational activities upstream of Medicine Park and preserving water quality in Medicine Creek. Although Medicine Creek is not currently listed as impaired, it faces challenges like turbidity and elevated bacteria levels from nonpoint source pollution. The project will evaluate three rehabilitation options to determine the most effective solution. With estimated costs ranging from $2.17 million to $8.2 million, partial funding includes a $2 million OWRB ARPA Grant, with the remaining funds to be secured through loans and local contributions. Construction and release of funds will only proceed once full funding is secured.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $3,097,400.00 compared to traditional financing.
“We are grateful to Oklahoma Legislators from the Lawton area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems.
Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
