50th anniversary of DeGray Dam marks $556 million worth of hydropower

By Kelly on January 18, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

By KELLY STILES | The Arkadelphian

On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 9 a.m., a crowd of about 40 people gathered in the DeGray Visitor Information Center to celebrate the half-century anniversary of DeGray Dam’s completion by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1972. Thick fog veiled Skyline Drive leading to the center, and a white void replaced the typically stellar view of the dam from the rear of the building. The smiling faces of park rangers Ryan Hellums and Robbie Morphew greeted attendees, opening the front doors.

**Park rangers Ryan Hellums (L) and Robbie Morphew (R) greeted event attendees, opening the front doors to DeGray Visitor Information Center.** | *The Arkadelphian/Kelly Stiles*

Following a picture slideshow of dam construction and usage, Col. Christopher Klein, commander of the Corps’ Vicksburg District, and Gene Higginbotham, district director from the office of Congressman Bruce Westerman, provided a brief history of DeGray Dam and Lake, and a summation of their great benefits to Arkansas.

“DeGray has paid for itself time and time again.”
— Col. Christopher Klein, commander of the Corps’ Vicksburg District

Rising 243 feet above the Caddo River bed, DeGray Dam impounds the 13,400-acre DeGray Lake using the Corps’ first “pump back” system. The reregulation dam forms a 400-acre lake below the main lake, providing a supply of water which is pumped back into DeGray Lake during times of drought and used again to generate hydropower and keep a steady flow to the Caddo.

**Col. Christopher Klein chops DeGray Lake’s birthday cake in half with a sword, surrounded by retirees from the construction of the dam.** | *The Arkadelphian/Kelly Stiles*

“This is one of the greenest types of dams you’re gonna find,” said Klein.

Over 4.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity have been generated since the dam’s inception, bringing approximately $6 million in annual revenue. Each year, the renewable and sustainable energy source generates power equivalent to 168,000 barrels of oil, 53,000 tons of coal, or 745 million cubic feet of natural gas. Southwestern Power Administration would have to pay $556 million to replace the energy that DeGray Dam has generated over its 50 years of operation.

“DeGray has paid for itself time and time again,” Klein said.

Klein gathered retirees who were involved in the dam construction before chopping a DeGray Lake “birthday cake” in half with a sword. Klein, Higginbotham, Michael Denny of Southwestern Power Administration, and Nikki Fuller of Southwestern Power Resources Association were tasked to ceremoniously burn the paid-in-full promissory mortgage note for the dam-building project just outside the center, but resolved to rip the enlarged document asunder due to rainy weather.

Col. Christopher Klein, Gene Higginbotham from the office of congressman Bruce Westerman, Michael Denny of Southwestern Power Administration, and Nikki Fuller of Southwestern Power Resources Association ripped the dam’s promissory mortgage note, marking that the project has been paid back in full. | *The Arkadelphian/Kelly Stiles*

DeGray Lake provides flood control to Arkadelphia and surrounding communities while holding 152 million gallons of water which is set aside for routine and emergency use. 1 million people visit DeGray Lake each year.

Display tables and stations around the visitor center were provided by Keeping DeGray Lake Beautiful, DeGray Lake State Park, and Clark County Historical Association.