Public Works: Brum Dam basins to be drained Dec. 8 as rehabilitation continues

Jess Shumway, Oklahoma City Public Works, told the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority on Nov. 18 that the agency plans to begin draining basins at Brum Dam around Dec. 8 as part of an ongoing rehabilitation project, with work expected to be completed in February.

"For the month of November, we're still moving forward with our Brum Dam rehabilitation project," Shumway said. She added that crews "plan on beginning draining the basins around December 8, so you'll start noticing some differences in the pool elevations," and that the project is expected to be completed around February.

Shumway said the dam's cylinder replacement — a routine maintenance task performed every five years to avoid failure — was finished recently and that all gates are now operational. She also reported that Oklahoma City river crews removed about 85 cubic yards of debris from the river in October and assisted contractors with the cylinder work.

The update did not include new cost figures, contractor names or a detailed phased schedule beyond the December draining start and the February completion estimate. Public Works presented the timeline and routine maintenance details to trustees but did not request any vote or formal action during the meeting.

Next steps: Public Works will begin basin draining around Dec. 8 and proceed with rehabilitation work through the winter; trustees were invited to raise questions at the meeting but no further action was recorded. The authority will consider any necessary follow-up in future meetings.