Wilbur D. Mills Dam Explained

Wilbur D. Mills Dam
Location Map:Arkansas#USA
Location Map Caption:Location of Wilbur D. Mills Dam
Coordinates:33.9889°N -91.3131°W
Country:United states
Location:Arkansas County, Arkansas / Desha County, Arkansas
Purpose:Flood control, power
Status:Operational
Construction Began:1963
Opening:1968
Dam Type:Barrage
Dam Crosses:Arkansas River
Dam Height Foundation:52.4feet
Plant Name:Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Hydropower Generating Station
Plant Commission:1999
Plant Capacity:102.6 megawatts

Wilbur D. Mills Dam is a steel dam and generating facility located on the Arkansas River in Arkansas County and Desha County, Arkansas, United States.

The dam is part of the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, and is named for Wilbur D. Mills, a member of United States House of Representatives from Arkansas.

Design

Wilbur D. Mills Dam is 52.4feet high, and consists of a 3773feet long earthen embankment, a 5180feet long high-level overflow, and a 5180feet long spillway.[1]

History

The course of the lower Arkansas River changes significantly downstream from the location of the dam, where the river follows a long winding route until it reaches its outflow at the Mississippi River, approximately 25miles southeast. This circuitous portion of the Arkansas River between the current dam location and the Mississippi River was historically bypassed by river vessels; early steamboats instead followed a network of rivers—known as the Arkansas Post Canal—which flowed north of the lower Arkansas River, and followed a shorter and more direct route to the Mississippi River. When the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was constructed between 1963 and 1970, the Arkansas Post Canal was significantly improved, while the lower Arkansas River continued to be bypassed by river vessels. For this reason, the dam was erected with no lock facilities because the waters downstream of the dam were used only by small recreational boats. Access to the Arkansas Post Canal is 2.5miles northwest of the Wilbur D. Mills Dam.[2]

The dam was at first called Dam Number 2, and was constructed between 1963 and 1968.[3]

In 1982, flooding along the Arkansas River caused 38 barges to break loose between 5miles and 8miles upstream from the dam. Fourteen of the barges struck the dam while two passed through the dam's open gate bays. Initial repairs cost $141,000, and additional repairs were initiated in 1990.[4]

A hydroelectric power plant was installed at the dam between 1994 and 1999. Completed at a cost of $189 million, the plant has a generating capacity of 102.6 megawatts.[5]

Recreation area

The Wilbur D. Mills Campground is located on the Arkansas County side of the dam. The campground has 21 campsites and a boat launch.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McDonald . James E. . Curtis . Nancy F. . Repair and Rehabilitation of Dams: Case Studies . US Army Corps of Engineers . 1999 .
  2. Web site: Arkansas – Verdigris River Navigation . American Canal Society . April 30, 2017 . September 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150913183501/http://www.americancanals.org/Data_Sheets/Arkansas/Arkansas%20River%20rvsd3.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: Report of the Port 2016 . Little Rock Port Authority . 2016 .
  4. Web site: McDonald . James E. . Curtis . Nancy F. . Repair and Rehabilitation of Dams: Case Studies . US Army Corps of Engineers . 1999 .
  5. Web site: Hydroelectric Power . Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas . April 30, 2017.
  6. Web site: Wilbur D. Mills, AR . Recreation.gov . April 30, 2017.