OKLAHOMA CITY – The Lawton Water Authority (Authority) received approval for a $39,000,000 loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s dam infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the dams will be financed by the Oklahoma Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The Authority oversees the Gondola Lake, Lake Ellsworth, and Lake Lawtonka Dams, with the latter two lakes providing water to the City of Lawton and Comanche County.
The Gondola Lake Dam is in deteriorating condition, with potential failure posing a threat to downstream water quality in Medicine Creek. Rehabilitation will involve replacing the concrete cap on the dam's structure, reducing the risk of failure, and safeguarding the water quality and recreational activities in the area.
The Lake Ellsworth Dam is currently rated "unsatisfactory" due to deterioration of spillway gates, panels, guide walls, and the drainage system. The proposed rehabilitation will involve strengthening the dam with rock anchors, installing additional drains, and casting a new reinforced concrete slab. These upgrades will enhance the dam's integrity, prevent potential failure, and reduce pollutants in downstream segments and tributaries, including East Cache Creek.
The Lake Lawtonka Dam, rated "fair," has challenges arising from the cracks and leaks in the gallery and spillway. Rehabilitation will focus on repairing these defects to decrease the risk of failure, enhance public safety, and protect the downstream environment and recreational activities in Medicine Creek.
The total estimated cost for these three projects is $52.2 million. Funding includes $2 million in ARPA funding for Gondola and $11 million for Ellsworth, with an additional $0.92 million from FEMA’s High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) grant. A CWSRF loan of $39 million will cover the remaining costs for the dam upgrades.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $11,108,500 compared to traditional financing. The CWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation services.
The Lawton Water Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Director of Field Utilities Rusty Whisenhunt. “We thank you for the opportunity to come before the Board,” said Whisenhunt.
“Investing in the rehabilitation of the Lake Ellsworth, Lake Gondola, and Lake Lawtonka dams is a critical step toward protecting our water supply and ensuring the long-term safety of our region," said Sen. Spencer Kern, R-Duncan. "This $39 million investment will safeguard vital infrastructure and resources, benefitting our communities for generations to come. I extend my appreciation to our partners at OWRB and the Lawton Water Authority, whose efforts have made this project possible.
“We are grateful to State Legislators from the Lawton area for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The CWSRF program is administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CWSRF program has provided approximately $2.8 billion in water quality loans to provide communities with the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources statewide.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $7.8 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
