National Pilot Upstream Flood ControlRehabilitation Project

Sergeant Major Creek Watershed Roger Mills County, Oklahoma

Sergeant Major Creek WatershedIn July 1998, a celebration washeld in Cordell, Oklahoma, tomark the 50th anniversary of thenation’s first upstream floodcontrol dam. This celebrationof Cloud Creek Site One inWashita County also brought tolight that many of the earlierconstructed upstream floodcontrol dams would soon reachthe end of their 50 year life

span. Many of these 40-50 year old dams needrehabilitation to continue to safely function properly.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Serviceselected Oklahoma to establish a pilot project onrehabilitation of aging flood control dams. SergeantMajor Creek Watershed was selected for this projectin August 1998.

This pilot project is identifying barriers, methods ofrehabilitating older dams, and identifying oppotrunitiesto address other resource needs that will be involvedwith rehabilitation of aging dams nationwide.

Work began on this pilot project in August 1998.The pilot has included a locally-led process,development of a project work plan supplement,reconstruction of two dams, and other conservationactivities.

The Sergeant Major Creek Watershed is located inRoger Mills County in western Oklahoma. Thewatershed includes 19,684 acres and encompassesthe Town of Cheyenne (population 950) and theWashita Battlefield National Historic Site.

The U.S. Forest Service and U.S. National ParkService operate 900 acres in the watershed, with thebalance of the land being privately owned andoperated. The majority of the land is rangeland withsome cropland along the creeks. Sergeant MajorCreek drains into the Washita River just north ofCheyenne.

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Sergeant Major Creek Watershed

History of the WatershedBefore construction of the six upstream flood controldams in the watershed, Sergeant Major Creekcontributed to serious flood damages. Heavy rains inthe watershed produced a major flood in Hammon,Oklahoma, in 1934, which took the lives of 17people.

During the period from 1923 to 1942, there were 11floods in the watershed which covered more than one-half of the flood plain, and 74 smaller floods.

Watershed Project ImplementedWorking under Public Law 78-534 (Flood ControlAct of 1944), USDA assisted local sponsors developa flood prevention plan on 2,530 acres of the eastbranch of Sergeant Major Creek in 1949. Twofloodwater retarding dams, 12 miles of diversions, and5 drop inlets for sediment control were soonconstructed. The two dams, which were built in 1948and 1949, are being rehabilitated in this pilot project.

In 1953 a workplan was developed adding theremaining 17,154 acres to the project and four moreflood control dams were built between 1949 and1963. Site 4 is being used as the sole source of watersupply for the town of Cheyenne.

Benefits of the Project“A 5-6 inch rain use to put the stream out of its banksat least once or twice a year before the dams werebuilt,” says Billy Harrison, local resident.

“Today the watershed is protected from flooding andthe creek bank has stabilized and is covered withvegetation. The Sergeant Major Creek project hasbeen a life saver for the community.”

“The Sergeant MajorCreek streambankwas 30 feet wide andhad vertical banks 15-20 feet deep beforethe dams were built. Itwould flood frequentlyand wooden bridgeswould wash out everytwo or three years,”says EverettSwartwood, localrancher. “Now thechannel is only 3 to 4feet wide and thebanks are stabilized.”

Billy Chalfant grewup in a house on thewest edge ofCheyenne. “Ourhouse was 850 feetfrom the creek andas a teenager I canremember the watergetting up to thefoundation of thehouse during the1934 flood. The 13inches that fell southof Cheyenne washedout the bridge on theWashita north oftown and contributedto the Hammonflood.”

Sergeant Major Creek in 1949 prior to construction of the dams, and same location in 1999.

Locally-Led ProcessThe Upper Washita Conservation District hasprovided the leadership in making a resourceassessment and identifying priority resource andcommunity needs in the watershed. The districtorganized a work group of landowners, cityrepresentatives and other citizens to assist with thisprocess.

Watershed Objectives and GoalsBeing Accomplished:� Rehabilitate flood control dams No. 1 and 2.

� Work with city officials to protect Site 4 and the watershed above the reservior

� Solve stormwater runoff problems in Cheyenne.

� Improve rangeland and wildlife resources in thewatershed by educating landowners about rangeand wildlife management through workshops andon-site assistance, developing conservation plansfor all land in the watershed, and developinggrazing plans on at least one-half of the rangelandacres in the watershed.

� Educate oil and gas company officials abouterosion control methods around oil and gas wellsites.

� Rehabilitate older conservation practices in thewatershed.

Progress on Pilot ProjectSite 2 is the first upstream dam in the nation to berehabilitated. The dam has been raised and theemergency spillway enlarged. The concrete tower andprincipal spillway have been replaced and a newdrainage system installed in the back of the dam. Site1 will be getting a new inlet tower and principalspillway as well as rebuilding the embankment and anew emergency spillway to meet Oklahoma damsafety standards.

Other Activities in the WatershedConservation plans and grazing systems are beingdeveloped by landowners with help from NRCS.

A 320-acre grazing demonstration project, funded by

a Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture producergrant, has been established.

Oil and gas companies operating in the watershedhave been contacted and provided with materialsabout the proper resource management.

A rangeland inventory has been completed and arange workshop for landowners has been conducted.

Stillwater, Oklahoma February 2000

Reconstruction of Site 2.

NRCS range conservationist and landowner studyingthe rangeland conditions in the watershed.

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