...NEW RIVER FORECAST POINT ON THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NEW
RIVER FORECAST POINT ON THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS. AFTER
COORDINATION WITH THE ARKANSAS-RED BASIN RIVER FORECAST CENTER...
THE FLOOD STAGE WILL BE SET AT 25 FEET. THE NEW SERVICE WILL BEGIN
EFFECTIVE ON DECEMBER 20 2007.

SINCE 1972...THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) HAS MAINTAINED A
RIVER GAGE ON THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS. THIS AUTOMATED USGS
GAGE...WHICH IS ON THE HIGHWAY 271 BRIDGE NORTHEAST OF ANTLERS...
HAS BEEN SUPPORTED THROUGH COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS (COE) AND THE OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARD (OWRB).

DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS...THERE HAS BEEN GROWING INTEREST IN
HAVING RIVER FORECASTS ALONG THE KIAMICHI RIVER. IN PARTICULAR...
THERE ARE RECREATIONAL INTERESTS NEAR THE MOYERS AREA...WHICH IS
ABOUT 12 RIVER MILES UPSTREAM FROM ANTLERS. THE NWS IS RESPONDING
TO CUSTOMER REQUESTS FOR RIVER FORECASTS AT THE GAGE SITE.

DURING AN EVENT ON JULY 3 2007...THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS
CRESTED AT 34.51 FEET. CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR
MOYERS WERE SEVERELY FLOODED. IN OCTOBER...THE NWS VISITED AND
SURVEYED THE FLOODED AREA AND MET WITH THE CAMPGROUND OWNER.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PERMANENT STRUCTURES ARE PROBABLY FLOODED
WHEN THE KIAMICHI RIVER REACHES A LEVEL BETWEEN 25 TO 26 FEET AT THE
ANTLERS GAGE. AFTER COORDINATING WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS...A PRELIMINARY FLOOD STAGE OF 25 FEET WAS SET.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA WILL THUS ESTABLISH A
NEW RIVER FORECAST POINT ON THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS...
EFFECTIVE ON DECEMBER 20 2007. FLOOD FORECASTS WILL BE ISSUED
WHENEVER THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE 25 FEET.

THE USGS AND THE COE HAVE GIVEN THE NWS THEIR CONCURRENCE TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW FORECAST POINT ON THE KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR
ANTLERS. LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS HAVE AGREED THAT NWS RIVER FLOOD
FORECASTS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO CUSTOMERS IN THE AREA.

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW RIVER FORECAST POINT ON THE
KIAMICHI RIVER NEAR ANTLERS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SERVICE
HYDROLOGIST AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA. PLEASE
CALL US AT 918-838-7838...OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS BELOW.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
10159 EAST 11TH STREET SUITE 300
TULSA OK 74128-3050

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