Water Resources

Corps' Management of 1990 Flooding in the Arkansas, Red, and White River Basins Gao ID: RCED-91-172BR August 1, 1991

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the Army Corps of Engineers' operation of its reservoirs in the Arkansas, Red, and White River basins during the May 1990 flooding that caused severe damage in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma to determine whether the Corps followed operating procedures in capturing and releasing the water from nine reservoirs in the three basins before, during, and after the flood.

GAO found that: (1) the Corps generally operated the nine reservoirs in accordance with its operating procedures before, during, and after the May 1990 flooding; (2) there was no evidence that the Corps released water from six of the reservoirs contrary to its procedures; and (3) in two cases, the Corps released water contrary to its operating procedures and prolonged the flooding of rural lands predominantly in Texas and Oklahoma.



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