Local Farmers Along Canadian River Watching Land Dwindle

Clean up has been just one problem for residents affected by the recent floods, but those along the Canadian River are already seeing negative long-term effects.

Saturday, July 10th 2010, 9:26 pm

By: News 9


By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

HARRAH, Oklahoma -- Clean up has been just one problem for residents affected by the recent floods, but those along the Canadian River are already seeing negative long-term effects.

At N.E. 36th Street and Harrah Road, the Canadian River is causing the land there to literally disappear.

"I've lost 23 acres" said longtime farmer Leo Nowakowski.

A portion of Nowakowski's 600 acres of crops resides near Northeast 36th and Harrah, which also sits alongside the Canadian River, the same place where the current and debris from the river have caused the land to erode away over time.

"Most of us farmers aren't engineers but we've seen things happen. We kind of know from experience what's going to happen ahead of time if something isn't done," Nowakowski said.

According to those who have examined the area, the recent flooding has only made the erosion problem worse.

"When this was full throttle two nights ago, there was major rushing waters coming from what the Oklahoma River dumps into the Canadian River," said Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan.

And as of late, what the river has been dumping is lots of debris, so much of it, Maughan said the nearby bridge connecting a portion of Harrah Road has weakened.

"When those big logs run up against those pillars, it just further weakens that. So we could be in a situation if we lose this bridge or it gets compromised we will have to replace it, and it will essentially wipe out most of the road budget we have in district two right now," Maughan said.

The structural integrity of the bridge has become such a concern for the county, Maughan said it's preventing the commissioners from spending money on other road projects.

"We are having to sort of keep some type of nest egg or in this case a rainy day fund in the event we lose a bridge," Maughan said.

To fix the bridge problem in addition to the erosion problems, Maughan said it would cost the county over $1 million. That's not something Nowakowski, who has sat back and watched his land disappear, wants to hear.

"It kind of makes you sick to your stomach, but your helpless you know," Nowakowski said.

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