Vicksburg District’s New Commander Gets Briefing at Arkansas Corps Lakes

Vicksburg, Miss…Colonel John W. Cross, Commander of the Corps’ Vicksburg District, has “hit the ground running.”  Having assumed Command on 28 June 2013, of the 68,000-square-mile District, his first visit and briefing was to the Arkansas Corps lakes and facilities.

Colonel Cross was briefed on the network of the Arkansas lakes by Brenda Meeks, Arkansas lakes project manager and the lake management team.

Stacy Sigman, resource manager for Lake Ouachita, briefed on the lake and its flood control, hydropower, and navigation aspects, which have expanded to include water supply and fish and wildlife habitat management. Lake Ouachita is the largest of the Arkansas Corps lakes and is approximately 40 miles in length with over 970-miles of shoreline.

Eric Jenkins, resource manager for Lake Greeson, briefed on the lake’s facilities and recreational areas. Lake Greeson is the oldest and smallest Corps Lake in Arkansas and has the only all-concrete dam in the Vicksburg District.

Jody Dvorak, resource manager at DeGray Lake briefed on DeGray and its facilities.  The dam and power plant has the distinction of being one of the first pump-back capable impoundments in Corps history, making it one of the most energy producing projects in the south.

Dustin Wilson, power project manager, also briefed on the generation of power at the lakes and facilities.

Colonel Cross stated, “I was extremely impressed by the professionalism and skills of both the rangers and the hydropower plant operators. The exemplary partnership with our stakeholders such as Friends of Lake Ouachita is evident by the pristine condition of the lake and its facilities.”

The visit and briefing enhanced Colonel Cross’ knowledge of the Arkansas Corps lakes recreational opportunities and their capability for providing power to thousands of customers in Arkansas.

XXX