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