Norfork Dam (pictured) is a renewed focus along with Bull Shoals in Corp initiative
A new initiative announced Monday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), following direction from President Trump, will bring a local focus on rehabilitation at the Norfork and Bull Shoals dams.
The “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative was announced as an effort to “eliminate bureaucratic delays and provide fast, clear decisions needed to save lives and empower our economy,” according to Adam R. Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “President Trump has empowered his administration to work with light speed efficiency to make our government deliver for more Americans and at less cost than the current ways of doing business.”
In response to the announcement, the USACE Little Rock District, which covers the state of Arkansas and portions of southern Missouri, said it will prioritize investments across its Civil Works missions: flood risk management, hydropower and navigation. Included in those investments is a focus on hydropower rehabilitation beginning with the Norfork powerhouse, followed by Bull Shoals. Rehabilitation of Beaver Dam in northwest Arkansas is currently scheduled for completion next month.
The Corps stated, “These plants must remain available to meet peak power demands during extreme summer heat and winter cold while supporting regional grid stability and nationally recognized trout fisheries that generate millions in annual tourism revenue.”
No details were shared in Monday’s announcement about the specific efforts planned during the rehabilitation period at Norfork and Bull Shoals, but the sites received top mention along with areas at Table Rock Lake and the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
Under “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” USACE district commanders, such as Little Rock’s Col. Eric Swenson, will be empowered to take “informed risks” in completing and advancing critical projects. The program promises to deliver these actions faster and at less cost.
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