Engineering Feats
Every week this summer, OEF will feature a new color sheet on our website and help you learn more about engineering feats in Oklahoma!
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System
You can download a colorsheet with words or without words. Your preference!
Exploring the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System: How It Helps Oklahoma
Have you ever seen a big river with boats carrying things like rocks, food, or even cars? That’s part of what happens on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, or MKARNS (say it like “muh-KARNZ”). It might sound like a long name, but this river system is very important to Oklahoma and other states!
What Is the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System?
The MKARNS is a waterway system made up of rivers, locks, and dams. It stretches for 445 miles and helps boats (called barges) move from the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma, all the way to the Mississippi River. This lets people and businesses send and receive goods like grain, oil, sand, and steel by boat instead of trucks or trains.
The system uses a series of locks and dams. A dam helps hold back water to make the river deep enough for big boats. A lock is like an elevator for boats. It lifts or lowers them so they can go past the dams safely.
Why Is It Important for Oklahoma?
Before the MKARNS was finished in 1971, Oklahoma had lots of rivers, but they were hard to use for shipping. Some places were too shallow, and others had strong currents. The MKARNS made the Arkansas River deeper and easier for boats to travel.
Here are some cool ways it helps Oklahoma:
-
Jobs and Business: The river system helps farmers, factories, and shipping companies move their products. That means more jobs for people in Oklahoma!
-
Saves Money: Sending goods by barge is cheaper than using trucks. That helps keep prices lower and saves fuel, too.
-
Environment: Barges can carry a lot more than trucks. That means fewer trucks on the road and less air pollution.
-
Safety: Using the river for shipping means fewer big trucks on highways, which helps make the roads safer.
The Port of Catoosa: A Big Deal!
One of the busiest inland ports in the United States is right in Oklahoma, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa! It’s the starting point for many barges traveling on the MKARNS. At the port, goods are loaded onto boats and sent down the river, or unloaded after arriving from other states.
The port brings in millions of dollars to the state each year and helps Oklahoma businesses send their products around the world!
Fun Facts
-
Over 12 million tons of cargo travel the MKARNS every year.
-
The system goes through 18 locks and dams to help boats travel smoothly.
-
Barges can carry as much as 70 trucks. Now that’s a lot of space!
Why Should Kids Care?
Even though you might not see it every day, the MKARNS helps bring food to stores, materials to build houses, and fuel for your family’s car. It’s part of what keeps Oklahoma growing and strong.
Next time you see a river, imagine giant boats floating by, carrying all kinds of cool stuff. You’re looking at a superhighway of water, and Oklahoma is right in the middle of it!
In 2021, MKARNS celebrated its 50th birthday!
Follow these links to learn more about McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS).
- The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa
- MKARNS 2030: Resilient, Reliable and Relevant
- MKARNS Marks 50th Anniversary (Oklahoma Department of Transportation)