Contractors performed a dive at Pine Creek Lake June 12 to remove the bulkhead from the structure to enable higher releases.
Recent rainfall increased lake level to 475.5, more than 37 feet above the normal pool elevation of 438.
“Pine Creek has been holding water to allow contractors time and ability to complete maintenance work on the gates and conduit” said assistant lake manager Corey Claborn. “However, heavy rains throughout the area caused the work to stop.”
Contract crews utilized a crane to perform the work. The bulkhead and lifting beam together weigh approximately 13,500 lbs.
The diver went 30 feet below the surface to rig the crane’s lifting shackles to the bulkhead.
“Prior to the diver getting into the water, all lockout tagout protocol was followed” said Pine Creek maintenance person, Jerry Dewitt.
This lockout tagout procedure ensured all equipment was shut down and inoperable until the work was completed, safeguarding the diver.
Another part of the process was monitoring downstream to ensure there were no fish kills.
Normally when water releases are shut off, the staff works for hours to pick up fish and move them downstream, back into sufficient water supply. However, this time very few fish needed to be moved by the staff.
Water levels downstream are lower and gate changes and releases are being made. The releases at Pine Creek are being balanced with releases at De Queen and Broken Bow to keep the river near Horatio, AR at regulation limit.
Once the water level reaches conservation pool, the contractor can resume painting on the gate frame seals the other two floodgates.
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