“Misleading” and “alarmist” are just some of the words used by Brian McNulty, Operations Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tuttle Creek Lake, to describe a news release issued Tuesday from the U.S. Geological Survey regarding sediment in the lake. While he agrees some of the facts are correct, he tells KMAN the statement that Tuttle Creek has lost 43 percent of its storage capacity is misleading.
McNulty adds yet another survey has been completed by the Corps but has not been published, which should more acurately portray the actual sedimintation rate information. And yet another survey also has been conducted which surveys the portion of the lake above the water, which assesess the flood control pool as well, which is the part of the lake they try to keep empty.
The U-S-G-S says the study demonstrates that the man-made reservoirs are meant to last “mere decades,” but Mcnulty differs with that, reminding us it’s a multi-purpose lake. He predicts centuries of viable flood control capabilities for the lake.
