Engineer Clarifies GRDA Request to Lower Grand

Gary Utter, consulting engineer for several Northeastern Oklahoma water districts, including #6 in Mayes County, this week clarified GRDA's request to FERC to lower Grand Lake in order to keep Lake Hudson at a minimum elevation of 614.
Below 614, Utter said, severe problems result for water intakes for Adair, Salina, Locust Grove and Rural Water District #6, due to their location.
Salina's intake sits on floating dock with intake six to seven feet below the water level; when the lake is below 614 elevation the pumps are stuck in the mud; Adair's intake is 12 inches below the surface at elevation 614 and the water boils, followed by pump cavitation; the intake for Locust Grove sticks out of the water at elevation 614; and Mayes County #6 intake is in a cove rather than out in the main lake.
In any case, Utter said, the problem is real, and letting three inches out of Grand raises the elevation of Hudson by a foot. He contacted GRDA to inform them of the problem and GRDA has requested a temporary variance of the rule curve from FERC to lower Grand below 742 elevation in order to keep Hudson at 614.
Normal elevation of Lake Hudson is 619, Utter said, and can go as high as 638 in a flood, which is why the water intakes were not built in deeper water to start with.
Current level of Hudson is near 616 and the variance might not be needed if we get more rain, Utter said.
Water District #6 has purchased $30,000 worth of new pipe to extend their intake out of the cove, and if not used for that purpose, can be used in other water projects, Utter said.
He said tall intake towers such as the cities of Grove and Vinita have on Grand Lake are not feasible on Hudson due to the severe lake level fluctuations and cost.