Brown water extends as far as the eye can see. Homes, businesses, cars, trees, and even a waterpark, are submerged. 

This is what it looked like in 2019 when the small city of Miami, Oklahoma (pronounced My-am-uh) flooded. For the past 80 years since the Pensacola Dam was built, floods like this have devastated the city. 

Today the dam is up for relicensing. If the relicensing is passed with the condition that the water level must be lowered, the intensity of flooding in Miami will decrease. On the other hand, if, as many politicians and vacationers are arguing for, the water level is raised, then flooding will increase. 

Historic Photo of the Pensacola Dam (referred to as Grand River Dam in this image)

[Source: Small Curio]  

There is also another twist. Ten miles away from Miami is one of the most contaminated areas in the country, the Tar Creek Superfund Site. The location of the site means that flooding events not only damage roughly 1500 homes and displace families but the water also carries toxic mine waste, spreading it throughout the city. 

At the end of the 19th century, lead and zinc deposits were identified in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma leading to the Indigenous inhabitants being forcibly removed. For the following 70 years, massive mining operations devastated the area. In 1967, shortly after mining ended, groundwater flooded the abandoned mines and spilled into Tar Creek, contaminating the watershed with toxic waste. To this day, waters contaminated by mine waste flows through the Tar Creek watershed. Yet, on hot Oklahoma summer days, the rivers are filled with children playing in orange stained water or fishing along the banks. 

Orange Water of Tar Creek

[Source: Author]  

Some might ask—if this has been happening for decades, why is it news today? 

The answer hinges on the future of the Pensacola Dam at Grand Lake O’the Cherokees, also known simply as Grand Lake. This relicensing is proposing to raise the water level at the lake for recreational purposes.  

Here is the problem: Increase the water level in Grand Lake and its ability to hold flood waters decreases. Decrease the holding room for flood waters and flooding upstream will become more frequent and intense as a result of the phenomena known as backwater flooding. Increase the intensity of floods upstream and the amount of toxic mine waste entering Miami will increase, resulting in more people being displaced and exposed to dangerous contaminants. 

So why is raising the water level in Grand Lake even on the table? 

The answer—recreation. Grand Lake is an extremely popular vacation spot in Oklahoma with many of the summer homes along its banks owned by the wealthy and influential, including recently retired U.S. Senator James Inhofe. Inhofe himself has been a leading voice in the fight to raise water and has the clout to make it happen. This makes it a battle between wealthy vacationers and residents of towns like Miami who demand the right to a safe home. 

The good news is that the decision has not yet been made. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for approving the relicensing of the dam. As a government agency FERC accepts comments. Anyone can submit a letter stating why the Pensacola Dam relicensing should not include permission to increase the water level. Doing this is of the utmost importance as relicensing only occurs every 30-50 years. If the water level is allowed to be raised, Miami will be facing the consequences for at least the next several decades. 

The time to act is now. Write in using this link and make sure to mention docket number P-1494 in your comment.