The W. D. Mayo Lock and Dam 14 is located on the Arkansas River at river navigation mile 319.6, near Spiro OK. This system of ocka sna dams is part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation Project, administered by the Tulsa District of the US Corps Of Engineers.
From the Tulsa Corps of Engineers website: (
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"The stretch of the Arkansas River on which W.D. Mayo Lock and Dam is located was once a lawless, rugged area, identified on early maps as Indian Territory. Still rugged and beautiful, this shoreline today is accessible by waterway and by roads leading to boat ramp access areas. During the spring, the redbuds, dogwoods, and wild plums are a delight to behold. The brilliant reds and golds of blackjacks, post oaks, red oaks, hickorys, pecans, walnuts, sycamores, and sumacs in the fall are breathtaking.
Named in honor of W. D. Mayo, late Sallisaw businessman, civic leader, and early champion of full development of the Arkansas River, this is the first lock and dam on the Arkansas River after the navigation channel leaves the state of Arkansas. It is located at navigation mile 319.6 in southeastern Oklahoma about nine miles southwest of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
There are three access points located near W. D. Mayo, these areas are for boat access only."
For specifics, see here: (
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Authorization: Authorized as a part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in the River and Harbor Act approved July 24, 1946, Project Document HD 758, 79th Congress, 2d Session. Section 1117 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Public Law 99-662, authorized the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to design and construct hydroelectric generating facilities at W. D. Mayo Lock and Dam.
Location: On the Arkansas River at navigation mile 319.6, about 9 miles southwest of Fort Smith, Arkansas, in LeFlore and Sequoyah Counties, Oklahoma.
Status: Completed
Purpose: Navigation.
History of Construction: Construction began in May 1966. Closure was completed on October 15, 1970, and the project was placed in useful operation. The lock and dam became operational for navigation in December 1970.
Type of Structure: The 7,400-foot-long dam consists of a low concrete apron and sill surmounted by tainter gates separated by 10-foot concrete piers. The gates are operated with machinery constructed on the piers. Twelve 60- by 21-foot tainter gates are provided for the structure.
Lock: The lock has a 110- by 600-foot chamber of the single-lift type with miter gates. The lock has a 20-foot normal lift and 22-foot maximum lift."
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