Misplaced Pages

#89910

53-688: According to GRDA's 2012 Annual Report, the agency had nearly US $ 412 million in operating revenue for 2012, compared to nearly US $ 395.5 million in 2011. It operates three hydroelectric facilities and two reservoirs, Grand Lake , Lake Hudson , and the Salina Pumped Storage Project , which includes W. R. Holway Reservoir , It also owns and operates the GRDA Energy Center (formerly named the GRDA Coal-Fired Complex). The Energy Control Center, home of

106-473: A record-breaking multiple-vortex tornado . The tornado set a record with a width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km). Multiple storm chasers, including Mike Bettes and Dan Robinson, were injured, and Tim Samaras , Paul Samaras, and Carl Young of the TWISTEX team, alongside amateur Richard Henderson, were killed. An EF3 tornado struck southern parts of El Reno on May 25, 2019. Touching down at 10:32 pm,

159-659: A design output of 300 megawatts of electric power. Google, Inc. contracted with GRDA to buy up to 48 megawatts of this power for its data center in Pryor, Oklahoma . On January 14, 2014, the GRDA Board of Directors approved purchase and installation of gas turbine generators to be installed at the GRDA Coal-Fired Complex in Chouteau . The new unit, which is known as Unit 3, is estimated to cost US$ 372 million,

212-451: A gas turbine that directly generates power. Then the hot turbine exhaust gas is cooled by boiling water to generate more steam, which drives a steam-powered generator and generates more electric power. The new generation unit was expected to be put in service in 2017, and has since been brought on-line. As of January 2024 Standard & Poor's (S&P) Rating Services upgraded GRDA's credit rating in 2007 from "BBB+" to "A−", and improved

265-718: A member of the Cherokee tribe, as first envisioning Grand River as a source for hydroelectric power for the Cherokee Nation . Even prior to Oklahoma statehood in 1907, Holderman began building political support for such a project. A feasibility study by the Army Corps of Engineers attracted favorable attention in the Oklahoma legislature, leading to creation of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA),

318-637: A member of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC). The LPPC consists of the largest publicly owned not-for-profit, electric utilities in the U.S. LPPC’s priorities include tax and finance issues, interaction with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, energy and environmental policies. Governor Mary Fallin (R) issued an executive order in July 2013 to establish a 15-member task force that would research

371-649: A narrow two-lane highway. A 120 megawatt, 6-unit powerhouse sits at the west end, with 21 spillways on the east end. The project's chief engineer was W. R. Holway (who was also responsible for Tulsa's Spavinaw water project ), while the architect of record for the PWA -style Art Deco design of the dam and powerhouse was Tulsan John Duncan Forsyth . Another mile east, through the town of Disney, lie two small sister dams known as "the spillways" with an additional 21 gates, surrounded by public parks and launching ramp. 510,000 cubic yards (390,000 m ) of concrete were used in

424-536: A number of shows in the area, as well as resorts, and a sixty-seven-foot long, twin deck paddle wheel riverboat called the Cherokee Queen , which has been in operation since the 1940s. Consistently ranked among the top bass fishing lakes in the United States , Grand also houses a wide variety of other sport and non-sport fishing. Due to its predictable winds, it attracts sailboaters from across

477-611: A project. A feasibility study by the Army Corps of Engineers attracted favorable attention in the Oklahoma legislature, leading to creation of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), a state agency, in 1935. Construction began in 1938 on the Pensacola Dam on the Grand River ( lower Neosho River ) as a Works Progress Administration project. The dam was completed in March 1940, creating the lake behind it. Between 1941 and 1946,

530-658: A state agency, in 1935. Construction began in 1938 on the Pensacola Dam on the Grand River ( lower Neosho River ) as a Works Progress Administration project. The dam was completed in March 1940, creating the lake behind it. Between 1941 and 1946, the U.S. government took control of Pensacola Dam to divert power to the war effort. Control was returned to the GRDA by the Congress and President Truman amid local celebration in August 1946. The second hydroelectric facility built by GRDA

583-473: Is Fort Reno and the city of El Reno. El Reno is located on the 98th meridian west , about 25 miles west of Oklahoma City. The eastern side of the meridian was opened to non-Indian settlement in the Land Rush of 1889 . The western side was opened in 1892, when the federal government also made some Cheyenne and Arapaho lands available for settlement by non-Native Americans. The town was subsequently selected as

SECTION 10

#1732780274090

636-424: Is a deep and mostly rocky lake. The average depth for Grand Lake is 36.3 feet. Its mean elevation is 745  ft (227 m) above sea level . In recent years, low fall elevations of 741 were kept by the GRDA to allow millet seeding for migratory waterfowl, resulting in conflict between property owners, environmentalists, and federal agencies. While not expressly built for flood control, Grand Lake contributes to

689-464: Is available at Will Rogers World Airport , about 29 miles southeast. El Reno is on the route of the AT&;L Railroad , which has branches running to Watonga and Bridgeport through Geary, Oklahoma , with overhead trackage rights on Union Pacific to Oklahoma City . Traffic includes grain, fertilizer and agriculture-related products. The town is also directly on Union Pacific's rail line, and

742-595: Is designed to produce 495 megawatts (MW) of electric power. The turbine-generators alone will cost US$ 77.84 million. Mitsubishi Power Systems is supplying M501J gas turbines and SRT-50 steam turbines for the new unit. Concurrently, the Authority renamed the Chouteau complex as the Grand River Energy Center. The new combined cycle generation process is energy-efficient because natural gas fuels

795-552: Is often simply called Grand Lake. It is administered by the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture credits Henry Holderman, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma as first envisioning Grand River as a source for hydroelectric power for the Cherokee Nation . Even prior to Oklahoma statehood in 1907, Holderman began building political support for such

848-653: The Federal Correctional Institution, El Reno (FCI El Reno). Prisoner age limits were lifted and men of all ages have been incarcerated here ever since. As medium-security prison, it has become the fifth-largest federal prison in the U.S. The prison is still one of the largest employers in El Reno. In 2015 President Barack Obama visited the prison, the first time a sitting president has visited any federal prison. During World War II, Fort Reno , about 5 mi (8.0 km) northwest of El Reno,

901-422: The Federal Correctional Institution, El Reno . El Reno is served by Interstate 40 , US Route 81 , US Route 270 (just west of town), and Oklahoma State Highway 66 . Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines . El Reno Regional Airport (KRQO; FAA ID: RQO), four miles southwest, has a 5,600 ft × 75 ft (1,707 m × 23 m) paved runway. Commercial air transportation

954-522: The Great Plains of North America. At one time, railroads contributed strongly to the city economy. A terminal and repair facility for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P or "Rock Island"), which employed a large number of people, was based here. Some 750 of the company's 970 employees in the state worked in El Reno. Due to changes taking place throughout the railroad industry,

1007-596: The land district office for the 1901 land lottery drawings. In 1932, the United States Southwestern Reformatory was constructed about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of El Reno. The federal reformatory housed male adult federal prisoners and was later restricted to house young adult male prisoners, aged 18 to 26. In the mid-1970s it was renamed by the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, as

1060-685: The "el" (meaning "the" in Spanish) later added by the local postmaster to help differentiate the community from the also newly established Reno City. Reno City was located on the north-side of the Canadian River five miles northeast of community of El Reno. The community of El Reno was located on the south-side of the Canadian river. The original village townsite was platted by the Oklahoma Homestead and Town Company on 120 acres of

1113-559: The CRI&;P went bankrupt in 1979. It abandoned the depot and railyards in 1980. The railyards are still vacant. El Reno is where the fried onion burger was invented. Like many other Midwestern foods, the Oklahoma onion burger was born out of Depression-era necessity. The burger was invented at the Hamburger Inn in El Reno, a 20-minute drive from Oklahoma City , in the 1920s in an effort to keep prices down. Adding onions to

SECTION 20

#1732780274090

1166-820: The El Reno rail yards. El Reno is a Main Street America community. The Oklahoma Main Street Program is part of a national network affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation . El Reno started its Main Street program in 1988; it was one of four cities in 2006 selected nationally to win the annual Great American Main Street Award. El Reno's program focusses on the Rock District of downtown. Several buildings in town are on

1219-665: The GRDA's System Operations Center, is at the Robert S. Kerr Dam, just north of Locust Grove, Oklahoma . In July 2016, it absorbed the mission of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission to manage, preserve and protect the waters of the scenic Illinois River. Its joint ventures include the Canadian Hills wind farm. GRDA's jurisdiction covers 24 counties in northeastern Oklahoma. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture credits Henry Holderman,

1272-745: The National Register of Historic Places, including the Carnegie Library , El Reno High School , and the Mennoville Mennonite Church . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 80.4 square miles (208 km ), of which 80.0 square miles (207 km ) are land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km ) (0.56%) is. water. El Reno is located at the interchange of I-40 and U.S. Route 81 . At one time, it sat on

1325-407: The U.S. government took control of Pensacola Dam to divert power to the war effort. Control was returned to the GRDA by the Congress and President Truman amid local celebration in August 1946. Pensacola Dam is claimed to be the longest multiple arch dam in the world, its main span consisting of 51 arches totaling 5,145 feet (1,568 m) in length, and supporting a walkway and State Highway 28 ,

1378-423: The age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were not families. About 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was distributed as 24.2% under

1431-443: The age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,200, and for a family was $ 39,106. Males had a median income of $ 29,521 versus $ 20,107 for females. The per capita income for

1484-611: The agency had nearly US $ 412 million in operating revenue for 2012, compared to nearly US $ 395.5 million in 2011. GRDA, as of Fiscal Year 2009, had an annual operating budget of $ 314 million and employed 450 employees (390 classified and 60 unclassified). Grand Lake (Oklahoma) Grand Lake o' the Cherokees is situated in Northeast Oklahoma in the foothills of the Ozark Mountain Range . It

1537-604: The boundary between Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory , and sits approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of the old Chisholm Trail . Jesse Chisholm is buried nearby. El Reno has endured numerous weather-related incidents. On May 24, 2011 , the violent and long-tracking 2011 El Reno–Piedmont tornado , an EF5 tornado, struck parts of northwestern El Reno. The tornado killed a total of 9 people, injured 181 others, and had winds measured at up to 295 mph by mobile doppler radar near Interstate 40 . Two years later, on May 31, 2013, rural areas near El Reno were hit by

1590-437: The celebration of art, music, culture, food and community. Visitors can observe the cooking of the world's largest fried onion hamburger , weighing over 850 lb (390 kg). The giant burger contains meat, fried onions, sliced pickles, and mustard - all held between two giant buns. Festival goers can get a piece of the monstrosity. Volunteers divide the giant burger into individual-sized portions, and other volunteers deliver

1643-495: The city was $ 15,570. About 11.4% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. The City of El Reno operates under a council-manager government system. City employees include the city manager , finance director, police chief, fire chief, city clerk, public works director, code enforcement director, community services director, and city librarian. The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates

Grand River Dam Authority - Misplaced Pages Continue

1696-449: The city. The population density was 202.7 inhabitants per square mile (78.3/km ). The 6,484 housing units averaged 81.1 units per square mile (31.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 71.8% White, 11.1% Native American, 7.2% African American, 0.5% Asian, 4.7% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.9% of the population. Of the 5,727 households, which 31.7% had children under

1749-515: The community township or Village of (El) Reno. The Village of El Reno originated shortly after the 1889 land run, with the post office coming into being in June of that year. Although "el reno" means "the reindeer " in Spanish , the town was actually named, in part, after nearby Fort Reno. Reindeer are not native to Oklahoma. The town's name was taken from the nearby military post of Fort Reno, with

1802-579: The construction of Pensacola Dam, poured 24 hours a day in just 20 months with Depression-era labor. The lake, and the electric utilities, as well as other projects in the region, along the Grand River are administered by the Grand River Dam Authority, an agency created by the Oklahoma legislature in 1935. Grand Lake has a surface area of 41,779 acres (169.07 km ) of water, a storage volume of 1,515,416 acre-feet, and 1,366 miles (2,198 km) of shoreline . Unlike other lakes in Oklahoma, Grand Lake

1855-575: The country as well. El Reno, Oklahoma El Reno is a city in and the county seat of Canadian County , Oklahoma , United States. As of the 2020 census , the city population was 16,989, marking a change of 1.55% from 16,729, recorded in the 2010 census . The city was begun shortly after the 1889 land rush and named for the nearby Fort Reno . It is located in Central Oklahoma , about 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Oklahoma City. The land of Canadian County belonged to

1908-579: The flood-prone Arkansas River watershed. The Army Corps of Engineers controls releases into the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System when lake levels exceed 745 feet (227 m), although locking into Grand Lake is not possible. Grand Lake and its neighbor, Lake Hudson (also managed by the GRDA), are the only two major lakes in the state where one can build directly on the waterfront. Residents of

1961-574: The free portions to anyone in the crowd wanting a piece. The fried onion burger dates to the Great Depression , when households added onions to ground hamburger mix to stretch out the meat supply. In 2001, El Reno was the first city in Oklahoma to re-establish streetcar service in the downtown area: the Heritage Express Trolley . Such service had not been available since 1947, and it was the only operating trolley line in

2014-557: The historic Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes at the time of European encounter. In 1874, the United States established a fort to supervise the area and General Philip Sheridan took command. He named it Fort Reno in honor of his friend, Gen. Jesse L. Reno , who was killed in the American Civil War . After the 1889 landrun, there were three entities the local postmaster had to keep separate - Fort Reno, Reno City, and

2067-466: The homestead of John Foreman. In 1890, Foreman's 120 acres along with 80 acres of Thomas Jensen's, were incorporated into the Village of El Reno. After the railroad company announced their rail lines were going to run on the south side of the Canadian river, Reno City relocated to the township of El Reno. The original Reno City site north of the river was abandoned. What remained and continues to this day

2120-432: The outlook from "stable" to "positive". While GRDA has received three rating outlook improvement from rating agencies in recent years, S&P's announcement was historic, marking the first rating upgrade in GRDA's history. The Fitch Rating Service followed suit in 2008. The A− rating was still in effect at the end of 2012, meaning that GRDA has very favorable terms for borrowing money. According to GRDA's 2012 Annual Report,

2173-615: The patty meant that owner Ross Davis could use less meat in his five-cent burgers. On June 15, 2015, Sid's Diner was featured on the Food Network series Top 5 Restaurants , with their fried-onion burger being highlighted. Sid's Diner has also been featured on the Travel Channel series Man v. Food . Since 1988 El Reno holds an annual Fried Onion Burger Day Festival in downtown the first Saturday in May. This event encourages

Grand River Dam Authority - Misplaced Pages Continue

2226-400: The possibility of dismantling GRDA and selling its assets. The members chosen by the governor have “experience or interest in energy issues.” It would include two members of her “Bold Ideas” task force. Governor Fallin announced on August 13, 2013, that she was suspending the task force and its work indefinitely. She said that she still supported the mission of the task force, she realized that

2279-491: The railroad honors El Reno as a "Train Town USA," one of 131 communities out of 7,300 communities it serves, because of the town's unique, long-standing relationship with the line. Public school districts with parts of El Reno include: El Reno Public Schools , Banner Public School , Darlington Public School , Maple Public School , and Riverside Public School . The El Reno Tribune publishes Wednesday and Sunday and has

2332-640: The state that year. Another line has since been started in Oklahoma City . The Heritage Express was installed with aid of a federal transportation grant and as part of a complex project also to improve the downtown's streets and drainage system. The former train depot and some other buildings were acquired by the Canadian County Historical Society for adaptive use as part of a museum complex. The 1954 film noir Human Desire includes locomotive and yard scenes filmed in

2385-573: The timing was bad and that the review could undermine GRDA's efforts to sell revenue bonds. GRDA has a financial interest in a wind turbine "farm" near El Reno, Oklahoma developed by Apex Wind Energy Holdings LLC and Atlantic Power Corp. Known as the Canadian Hills wind farm, it will sell power to GRDA, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and Southwestern Electric Power Co., a Louisiana-based unit of American Electric Power . The facility initially had 135 turbines and

2438-404: The tornado damaged a service station before moving east-northeastward and crossing Interstate 40. It damaged billboards before striking a motel and a mobile home park at U.S. Highway 81, both of which suffered significant damage. One part of the motel had most of its second-floor walls destroyed, and several mobile homes were destroyed, killing two people and injuring many others. East of Highway 81,

2491-518: The tornado damaged an automobile service building and a house on Route 66. The tornado caused tree damage before dissipating on Alfadale Road north of Route 66. The tornado had a maximum estimated width of 75 yards (69 m) and injured 19 people. El Reno is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the census of 2010, 16,749 people, 5,727 households, and 3,842 families resided in

2544-540: The town of Miami and Native American groups have objected to proposals to increase high water levels at Pensacola Dam in order to maintain the water level at Grand Lake. Miami residents are concerned that when water backs up downstream from Miami on the Neosho River, this can contribute to Miami's flooding problems. The lake is a popular destination for entertainment in the Green Country region. There are

2597-487: The two units need extensive retrofits to meet new emission regulations and to improve energy efficiency with more modern technologies. In 2008, GRDA, Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) jointly purchased the Redbud Generation facility near Luther, Oklahoma for 434.5 million. The facility uses natural-gas fueled turbines to generate electricity. Rated capacity

2650-553: Was 1230 MW. GRDA owns 36 percent of the venture, while OG&E owns 51 percent and is designated as the operator. OMPA owns the balance. In 2010, GRDA completed a new visitors' center adjacent to Pensacola Dam. The building was designed to be the home of GRDA Ecosystems Management offices, a state-of-the-art water research lab, offices for the Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, a community auditorium and historical exhibits. On June 13, 2012, GRDA approved becoming

2703-511: Was designed to produce 260 MW of power during peak consumption periods. During periods of lower power demand, water is pumped from Lake Hudson to Lake Holway and released back down through the pump-generators during periods of high energy demand. In the late 1970s, the Authority decided to build the GRDA Coal-fired Power Generation Complex, located near Chouteau, Oklahoma . Now more than four decades old,

SECTION 50

#1732780274090

2756-574: Was the Markham Ferry project. In 1961, the Markham Ferry dam (since renamed as the Robert S. Kerr Dam) was begun downstream of Pensacola Dam on the Grand River. The lake it impounded was named Lake Hudson . The project was completed in 1964. The powerhouse has four hydroelectric turbines, providing a total capacity of 114,000 kW. GRDA states that an average year can provide 211 million kWh. The Salina Pumped Storage Project constructed for GRDA during 1968 - 1971, created Lake W. R. Holway . It

2809-544: Was the site of a prisoner of war camp for Germans and Italians. The POW cemetery has been preserved and has stones bearing the names of German and Italian prisoners who died there. Following World War II, the US Army determined it did not need the fort. In 1948 the fort was transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , for use as a research laboratory . The laboratory studies environmentally sustainable forage and livestock production, contributing to preservation of

#89910