TEXARKANA, Texas -- The Corps of Engineers is nearing the completion of upgrades on the Wright Patman Lake spillway that are more than 10 years in the making.
In mid-September, the Corps began a massive project to de-water the spillway basin for resurfacing. Lake manager Matt Seavey said the work, which he described as recapping, is to strengthen sections of the basin that have eroded. He said the Corps began thinking about the work in 2009, when the basin was last de-watered for a scheduled 10-year inspection.
Work began with the construction of a roughly 9-foot cofferdam to separate the basin from the main part of the Sulphur River. Next, the Corps and contractors used two pumps to move water from the basin and reintroduce it downstream to keep the river aerated, Seavey said.
Not to be forgotten were wildlife trapped in the basin after the dam construction.
"We took several days to catch all of the fish and put them back in the river," Seavey said.
About 50 tons of fish, mainly buffalo and gar, had to be netted and moved downstream, he said.
A group of students from the University of Texas-Tyler removed the mussels from the basin.
The Corps and contractors also had to ensure that long-forgotten fishings lures and weights were cleared away.
"There were quite a lot of weights, line and other debris that was removed from the area," Seavey said.
Once the basin was sufficiently dry, clean and animal-free, Texarkana Concrete Co. began the resurfacing. Up to 9 inches of concrete had been poured by late last week, Seavey said.
"They are finishing the last of the concrete work," Seavey said, anticipating the pour to be complete by early this week.
The concrete is expected to take up to seven days to cure, so Seavey projects the removal of the cofferdam and the refilling of the basin to start by Oct. 11.
Seavey said the project, which carries about a $1.5 million price tag, is preventative, not an indication the spillway or dam are unsound.
"We want to make sure that everything is maintained at the highest level, to be one step ahead," he said.
Without such work, structural issues compound, raising the risk of dam failure and flooding along 3,400 square miles of waterway, Seavey said.
The spillway project has brought the temporary loss of a popular fishing spot. Scores of anglers lined up on the spillway wall and standing on large rocks inside the basin are common sights on any given day.
Seavey understands the interest in the fishing hole and the anticipation of outdoorsmen eager to start casting their lines and nets. However, he asks for patience.
"We know people are interested, but we ask they watch from a distance for safety."