In 1820,
the COMET became the first steamboat to navigate the Arkansas River.
It reached Arkansas Post, about 40 miles above the confluence of the
Arkansas and the Mississippi rivers, on March 31.
Those who
rejoiced at the arrival of the COMET also understood that the steamboat
couldn't have gone much farther up the Arkansas and might never have
made it even to Arkansas Post had the trip been attempted in another
month.
In the early days, the uncontrolled river's stages fluctuated wildly
from almost no flow to above flood stage. The arrival of the COMET captured
the imagination of people who understood that the potential of the rich
Arkansas Valley was linked to the existence of a reliable, year-round
'waterway' that reached deep into Oklahoma.
In 1970,
a century and a half later, this dream was realized with the opening
of a 445-mile-long-waterway with 17 locks and dams. Construction by
the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers spanned more than a quarter of a century
at a cost of $1.3 billion. In July 2004, an 18th lock and dam was opened
on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. It is at NM
0.5 on the White River Entrance Channel. Because of the enormous
size and complexity of the project, the waterway would never have been
constructed without the dedicated efforts of many Arkansas and Oklahoma
people in both public and private life.
In 1971,
the United States Congress, which 25 years before had authorized the
funds for the project, officially named it the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas
River Navigation System (MKARNS) in honor of two of the waterway's most
persistent and persuasive supporters, the late U. S. Senators John L.
McClellan of Arkansas and Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma.
Preliminary estimates indicate that 12,896,887 tons of commodities were
shipped on the system in 2004. Based on prices obtained from Institute
for Water Resources and the National Agricultural Statistics Service/USDA,
the value of these commodities was $3,095,085,000.
Navigation
Charts
Copies of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System charts
are available through our Public Affairs Office, Room 7403, 700 W. Capitol,
Little Rock, AR 72203, or from the Tulsa District Office, for $12.00
per copy if purchased in person. The charts may be purchased by mail
for $17.00 from either office, or they may be individually viewed or
printed free of charge form the Tulsa District website at: http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/navigation/navcharts.cfm
Please
include the following information when ordering charts by mail: Your
name, address, daytime phone number, check or money order for $17.00
payable to: FAO, USAED, Little Rock, and mail request to: U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Attn: Map/Chart Sales, P.
O. Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203
Navigation
charts for the Mississippi River can be purchased from Mississippi Valley
Division or downloaded from the division
web site in PDF format.
Links
External Link Disclaimer:
The appearance of the following hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of these web sites or the information
or services contained therein. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does
not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find
at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated
purpose of this Army web site.
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Marine Design Center
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Navigation Data Center
U.S. Coast Guard
Arkansas Waterways Commission
Little Rock Port Authority
Port of Muskogee
Tulsa Port of Catoosa
Oklahoma Deptment
of Transportation Waterways Branch
Ports of Fort Smith and Pine Bluff
(click on map)
Points
of Contact
Little Rock District
Public Affairs (501) 324-5551
Navigation Fax Server (501) 324-5159
Navigation and Maintenance (501) 324-5739
Reservoir Control (501) 324-6237
Montgomery
Point Lock & Dam (NM 0.5), (870) 548-3400
Pine Bluff Project Office (870) 534-0451
Russellville Project Office (479) 968-5008
Norrell
Lock (No.1) (870) 548-2796
Lock No. 2 (870) 548-2791
Joe Hardin Lock (No.3) (870) 479-3164
Emmett Sanders Lock (No. 4) (870) 534-2127
Lock No. 5 (501) 842-2761
David D. Terry Lock (No. 6) (501) 961-9281
Murray Lock (No. 7) (501) 663-1997
Toad Suck Ferry Lock (No. 8) (501) 327-0853
Arthur V. Ormond Lock (No. 9) (501) 354-8402
Dardanelle Lock (No. 10) (479) 890-4987
Ozark-Jeta Taylor Lock (No. 12) (479) 667-2120
James W. Trimble Lock (No. 13) (479) 452-0488
United
States Coast Guard
Marine Safety Detachment
Greenville, Mississippi (662) 332-0964
State of
Arkansas
Arkansas Waterways Commission (501) 682-1173
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Commission (501) 569-2000