1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Water is pumped from the stilling basin during a dewatering below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set up a small dam to pump water from the stilling basin before inspecting the condiuit and outlet works as part of its periodic dam safety schedule. After pumping water from the stilling basin district employees from the Sardis Lake Office and Tulsa District's Infrastructure Section returned fish in the pond to Sardis Lake.
(Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Water is pumped from the stilling basin during a dewatering below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set up a small dam to pump water from the stilling basin before inspecting the condiuit and outlet works as part of its periodic dam safety schedule. After pumping water from the stilling basin district employees from the Sardis Lake Office and Tulsa District's Infrastructure Section returned fish in the pond to Sardis Lake.
(Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Jaemon Chambers, maintenance, Sardis Lake Project Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District adjusts a pump to remove water from the stilling basin below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. Water is pumped from the stilling basin during a dewatering below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was performing a dewatering to inspect the stilling basin and conduit as part of the periodic dam safety schedule. After pumping water from the stilling basin district employees from the Sardis Lake Office and Tulsa District's Infrastructure Section returned fish in the pond to Sardis Lake, and conducted the inspection.
(Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Jaemon Chambers, maintenance, Sardis Lake Project Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District adjusts a pump to remove water from the stilling basin below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. Water is pumped from the stilling basin during a dewatering below Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was performing a dewatering to inspect the stilling basin and conduit as part of the periodic dam safety schedule. After pumping water from the stilling basin district employees from the Sardis Lake Office and Tulsa District's Infrastructure Section returned fish in the pond to Sardis Lake, and conducted the inspection.
(Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish)VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District performed a periodic inspection of Sardis Dam in Sardis, Okla., July 29, 2025-Aug. 1, 2025.
Before performing the inspections, the Sardis Lake Project Office set up a small dam downstream of the stilling basin to dewater the area for the inspection.
Dewatering allows inspectors to gain a more accurate picture of the dam and identify issues like erosion or concrete spalling.
After pumping the water from the stilling basin, Sardis Lake Project Office and Tulsa District Infrastructure Branch employees held a fish rodeo to remove game fish from the stilling basin and return them to Sardis Lake.
Periodic inspection requirements include dewatering the stilling basin and gate operational capabilities inspections to identify maintenance requirements and ensure structures operate as intended for public safety.
Social Sharing