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Dam rehabilitation limits river transit; COPTA continues charter cruises while restricting landing-to-landing transit
Summary
Dam and lock rehabilitation on the Oklahoma River has closed a stretch of the river to landing‑to‑landing transit; COPTA continues charters and specialty cruises from lower-basin landings while coordinating repairs with Public Works.
COPTA staff reported July 11 that dam and lock rehabilitation along the Oklahoma River has reduced the authority’s ability to run regular transit trips between several landings. The May Avenue and Brum dams (locks) are being rehabilitated; staff said one dam rehabilitation was expected and another damage was unexpected, reducing the navigable river area. Staff explained that the board report shows zero transit trips in the affected stretch because a transit trip is defined as travel from one landing to another and the disabled locks prevent through-navigation. The authority is still operating specialty charters and cruises from the lower basin (Bricktown/Regatta landing area) and reported nearly 900 specialty cruises in June. Staff said all three riverboats are stored at the Bricktown Regatta landing and that operations and maintenance access are affected because the boats cannot reach the Exchange landing for maintenance. The Brum and May dam work may extend through the remainder of the river season; staff said they are coordinating with Public Works and posting public notices and social-media updates. The First American Museum (FAM) landing, when open, will restore some transit connectivity between landings but will not fully mitigate the current navigation constraints while dam work continues. Trustees received the update; staff said repairs are expected to be completed before next year’s season if possible, but provided no fixed completion date for all repairs in the transcript.
