Flood Control

Every year floods sweep through communities across the United States taking lives, destroying property, shutting down businesses, harming the environment and causing millions of dollars in damages. Nearly 94 million acres of land in the United States are at risk for flooding. It is impossible to prevent all floods, but it is possible to prevent some and to limit the damage from those that do occur. Achieving these objectives is a major Corps mission.

Our flood damage reduction projects have two major focuses: preparing and responding. Preparation involves planning and implementing structural and nonstructural projects that will reduce the impact of floods and, in some cases, prevent them. Responding means moving in rapidly when floods do occur to lessen the burden on communities, the economy and the environment. The highest recorded DeGray Lake level is 420.5’ in December of 1982.  The Spillway crest is 423.0’ and water has never reached this elevation.

Generation Schedule

Flood Damages Prevented

The Flood Control Act of 1917 was the first official legislation that authorized the Corps to have a significant federal role in flood control activities nationwide. Today, the Corps is responsible for all projects containing Federal flood control storage, even if the project was built or is currently operated by other agencies. The Corps has constructed and currently operates 383 major lake and reservoir projects; raised and maintains over 8,500 miles of levees and dikes; and built hundreds of smaller local flood protection projects that have been turned over to non-Federal authorities for operation and maintenance. In addition, the Corps has constructed about 90 major shoreline protection projects. Today, most Corps flood and coastal storm damage reduction projects are constructed as joint ventures between the Federal government and non-Federal sponsors. Funding for flood and coastal storm damage reduction activities represents approximately 30% of the Corps Fiscal Year 2000 budget authority.

Corps flood damage reduction projects have preformed well. An estimated $706 billion in damages have been prevented, most within the past 25 years (following the completion of the majority of projects). The cumulative cost of constructing and maintaining these projects is $119 billion, about a six to one return on the investment. That return is expected to grow. These projects will likely provide many more benefits in the future for minimal maintenance cost.

DeGray Dam and Power Plant has the distinction of being the first pump-back capable impoundment in the history of the Corps of Engineers.  This system is not only ingenious but has substantial environmental benefit as well. The design includes a four hundred acre re-regulation pool below the main lake, which serves as a storage basin for pump back capability.  During designated times, routinely during the summer months, the 28 MW generator can be reversed, pulling water out of the Lower Lake back into the main lake to be utilized again for hydropower generation.  This efficient feature of obtaining clean energy from the same water volume twice saves stored water in the main lake, which is already low in August through December.  The 400-acre impoundment also serves as an ideal waterfowl refuge.   The innovative DeGray pump-back system is a great example of hydroelectric and environmental synergy!

DeGray Lake serves as a major rural water supply for Hot Spring, Clark and Garland Counties, providing a safe, dependable water supply for thousands of customers, including county residents and businesses.