Monday, March 3, representatives of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District updated the Tate County Board of Supervisors about repair plans for the Arkabutla Dam.
Dam Safety Program Manager Mason Jarabica led the discussion aided by Natural Resource Officer Chris Gurner, Operations Project Manager Matt Pierce, Arkabutla Lake Resource Manager Jamie Hissong, and Public Affairs Deputy Chief Erin Hern of USACE.

Safe repair requires building a new outlet structure at the dam while making sure the current outlet functions throughout construction.  Keeping the current outlet working while building the new outlet is essential to keeping downstream communities safe from flooding.The plan includes repairing the current dam so that it can be used while the new outflow structure can be built. Before the new outflow can be constructed, a temporary dam will have to be built to protect the work area.  The temporary dam will then have to be removed, and the original dam outflow completely blocked off before the new outflow can be used.

Because of the need to maintain flood protection, planning and construction is projected to take about 10 years to complete at an estimated cost of more than $800 million.

For more details, visit the Arkabutla Dam Project Page at:

https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Projects/Arkabutla-Project-Page/